Ruth Aitken

Ruth Ellina Aitken ONZM (née Fathers; born 31 July 1956 in Paeroa)[1][2] is a New Zealand former international-level netball player and former head coach of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns. A former goal-attack, Aitken represented New Zealand in the 1979 World Netball Championships in Trinidad and Tobago, playing two warm-up games and then in one match against Ireland.[3]

Ruth Aitken
ONZM

Aitken in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Ruth Ellina Aitken (née Fathers)
Born	(1956-07-31) 31 July 1956 Paeroa, New Zealand
Netball career
Playing position(s): WA
Years	National team(s)	Caps
1979	New Zealand	3
Coaching career
Years	Team(s)
1999–2001	Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic
2001–2011	New Zealand
Medal record Representing  New Zealand World Netball Championships 1979 Trinidad and Tobago Netball

Aitken became coach of the Silver Ferns in 2001, replacing Yvonne Willering.[3] During Aitken's tenure as national head coach, the Silver Ferns won the 2003 World Netball Championships and the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games, but came second to Australia at both the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 World Netball Championships. In February 2008, Aitken was re-signed as national head coach for a further four years.[4]

In the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours, Aitken was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to netball, alongside Silver Ferns captain Casey Williams.[5] In late 2011, she retired as coach of the national team - and was later replaced by assistant Waimarama Taumaunu.

In Dec 2012, it was announced that Aitken would take over as Technical Director and National Coach of Netball Singapore.[6]