Lois Muir
Encyclopedia
Dame Lois Joan Muir, DNZM
, OBE
(born 1935) is a New Zealand
netball
coach and administrator, and a former representative netball and basketball
player. Muir represented New Zealand in two sports, playing with the Tall Ferns from 1952–1962 and the Silver Ferns
from 1960–1963. She later became head coach of the Silver Ferns
for 15 years from 1974–1988. During this time she coached the Silver Ferns to World Championships gold in 1979 (jointly with Australia
and Trinidad and Tobago
) and in 1987.
Muir received an OBE in 1984 and was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
in 1993. With the start of the Coca-Cola Cup (later the "National Bank Cup
") in 1998, she became coach of the Capital Shakers
team. In August that year, she was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Muir continued to coach the Shakers until the end of the 2000 season. She also took up a coaching position with the Otago Rebels
until the end of 2005.
In 2004, Muir was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
in recognition of services to sports administration and netball in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. She was appointed President of Netball New Zealand
for a term of two years starting from 2007.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1935) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
coach and administrator, and a former representative netball and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. Muir represented New Zealand in two sports, playing with the Tall Ferns from 1952–1962 and the Silver Ferns
Silver Ferns
The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent New Zealand in international netball. The team take their nickname from the Silver Tree Fern , which is an iconic emblem for many New Zealand sports teams. The Silver Ferns were formed in 1938 as a representative...
from 1960–1963. She later became head coach of the Silver Ferns
Silver Ferns
The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent New Zealand in international netball. The team take their nickname from the Silver Tree Fern , which is an iconic emblem for many New Zealand sports teams. The Silver Ferns were formed in 1938 as a representative...
for 15 years from 1974–1988. During this time she coached the Silver Ferns to World Championships gold in 1979 (jointly with Australia
Australia national netball team
The Australia national netball team, commonly known as the Australian Netball Diamonds, represent Australia in international netball tests and competitions. The team was formed in 1938 and played in the first international game of netball, against New Zealand...
and Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national netball team
The Trinidad and Tobago national netball team, known as the Calypso Girls, represent Trinidad and Tobago in international netball. The Caribbean team competed at the first World Netball Championships in 1963, and are the only nation outside of Australia and New Zealand to have won a World...
) and in 1987.
Muir received an OBE in 1984 and was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
The New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame is an organisation commemorating New Zealand's greatest sporting triumphs. It was inaugurated as part of the New Zealand sesquicentenary celebrations in 1990. Some 160 members have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception representing a wide...
in 1993. With the start of the Coca-Cola Cup (later the "National Bank Cup
National Bank Cup
The National Bank Cup was the pre-eminent national netball competition in New Zealand between 1998 and 2007. From 2008, it was replaced by the ANZ Championship.-Format:...
") in 1998, she became coach of the Capital Shakers
Capital Shakers
The Capital Shakers were a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that competed in now defunct National Bank Cup competition. The Shakers franchise merged with the Western Flyers to form the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship-2007 Shakers Squad:...
team. In August that year, she was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Muir continued to coach the Shakers until the end of the 2000 season. She also took up a coaching position with the Otago Rebels
Otago Rebels
The Otago Rebels was a New Zealand netball team which represented Otago in the National Bank Cup.Otago Rebels were the first team to win the inaugural Coca-Cola Cup...
until the end of 2005.
In 2004, Muir was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
in recognition of services to sports administration and netball in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. She was appointed President of Netball New Zealand
Netball New Zealand
Netball New Zealand is the national body which oversees, promotes and manages netball in New Zealand, including the Silver Ferns.Other competitions overseen include:*ANZ Championship – Premier Domestic Competition...
for a term of two years starting from 2007.