Words: Daniel Drew
Jenny Borlase has achieved the pinnacle of coaching in Australian netball, receiving her High Performance Coach Accreditation in 2025.
The former Australian Diamond joins an exclusive group of South Australian coaches to have reached this level after completing Netball Australia’s High-Performance Course earlier this year.
Previously working with the Australian Institute of Sport and current assistant coach of the Adelaide Thunderbirds Futures, Borlase brings in a wealth of experience for the younger generation through her extensive history of playing and coaching in netball.
Having Represented Australia in over 70 appearances, including 5 gold medals across the World and Commonwealth Games, she is leaning on past experiences to help guide her talented young group to success.
“I'm very fortunate that I am able to draw on both experiences from being a coach and also from being an athlete in the professional environment for such a long period of time,” Borlase said.
“I am really enjoying my current role in coaching and the opportunity I have to help the younger South Australian athletes to be the best they can be.
“It's very satisfying to see them progressing week in, week out.”
The Borlase family are no strangers to success on the sporting stage, with husband Darryl a former Australian rules footballer and son James a current defender with the Adelaide Football Club.
Daughter Isobel has made a name for herself in basketball, representing Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics and being selected at pick 20 in the 2024 WNBA draft.
Her other daughter Ella also represented Australia in 2024 in surf boat rowing.
Enriched in consistent personal and family success, Borlase’s support and love for her family will always remain paramount, on and off the court.
“We love going along and supporting each of them in what they do,” Borlase said.
“It definitely at times can be a bit of an emotional roller coaster, but at the end of the day, I'm my kids’ mum, and I like focus on trying to be there to support them as a mum would.
The family's collective achievements across netball, football, rowing, and basketball underscore their status as a prominent sporting dynasty in South Australia, as Borlase hopes the opportunities continue to show up in the future.
“I think it's a real privilege to be working with highly motivated, and talented athletes each day,” Borlase said.
“I hope there are further opportunities that continue to present in that area in the near future.”
