Winfield-Hill returns to Heat to continue coaching path

More than five years after calling time on her playing career, former quick Courtney Winfield-Hill has returned to the Brisbane Heat as an assistant coach.

Winfield-Hill's signing was announced by the club today, with the 36-year-old having moved into the coaching world in recent years in the United Kingdom, where she resides with her partner and England international Lauren Winfield-Hill.

The ex-right-arm pace bowler played 99 white-ball matches for the Fire and Heat between 2009 and 2018, and will rejoin a squad featuring former teammates Jess Jonassen as well as Laura and Grace Harris.

A gifted sportsperson, Winfield-Hill made a highly successful switch to rugby league after finishing up in cricket, winning four trophies with Leeds Rhinos in the UK Super League, being named the 2019 'Woman of Steel' as the competition's best player, and representing England at the 2022 World Cup after qualifying via residency rules.

The partner of England international Lauren Winfield-Hill, she has been living in the UK since 2018, but some time back in Australia last summer proved the precursor to this opportunity with the Heat.

"I was home just quickly, and I asked 'Noffers' (head coach Ashley Noffke) if I could pop into a few Fire training sessions, and just help out," Winfield-Hill told cricket.com.au.

"I watched a bit of cricket while I was there, so I was in and around the place, and then 'Noffers' reached out and said, 'What do you think about this (Heat coaching opportunity)?'

"I love coaching, so if I can continue to stimulate my coaching brain and continue my own learning, that's really enticing for me."

The former high school PE teacher has been mentored in her coaching journey in the UK by Yorkshire development coach Kevin Gresham, while she worked as the head academy coach for the Northern Diamonds until last December, when she resigned to pursue opportunities in private coaching as well as with England A and Trent Rockets.

"It was just really difficult with my academy role to do anything else," she said. "But now I've opened up (the chance for) a little bit more franchise stuff, whether that's here in England or back home in Australia, which is probably a little bit more enticing.

"Home is always home, and it'll be nice to come back to somewhere you're familiar with, but so much has also changed at Queensland Cricket so there's enough for me that feels really stimulating. Even just the girls coming through, they were all young kids just starting club cricket when I was there last.

"So if it means I can get back to Queensland for a while, and get my Queensland fix and my family fix, then of course, it's something I'm looking forward to."

The Heat begin their WBBL campaign on October 20 against the Renegades in Melbourne.