Noeline Taurua's netball nous has been credited for pushing the Silver Ferns over the line in Liverpool.
New Zealand topped Australia 52-51 in a thrilling World Cup final on Monday (NZT), to claim a first title since 2003.
It completed a remarkable turnaround from where the Ferns were just 18 months ago.
New Zealand failed to win a medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games under the leadership of coach Janine Southby and skipper Katrina Rore.
Southby departed and Rore was demoted by new coach Taurua, although the Central Pulse captain would go on to play a starring role against Australia.
New Zealand defender Karin Burger has lauded the coaching abilities of Taurua, describing her as 'one of a kind'.
"She is very clear and what she expects from each player so you are never in doubt," Burger told Newshub.
"You know what your job is out on court and she is able to get the best out of you and understand how to bring players together to get the best out of the whole team on the court."
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Fellow Fern Shannon Saunders went a step further. The midcourter believes Taurua to be the most intelligent coach in the game.
"She has this aura, this mana around her," Saunders told Newshub.
"She has so much belief in you and her netball brain is ridiculous.
"She is the smartest netball person I have ever met. She comes up with strategies and ways to develop the game - she is so crucial to New Zealand netball."
Taurua's future with Netball New Zealand remains unclear with the 51-year-old officially off-contract.
But her good work in such a short time with the group has left the national side in fantastic shape moving forward.
Saunders told Newshub the squad has built an incredible sense of self-belief that they can achieve whatever task they have in front of them.
"The belief was really strong within the group and I don't think, externally, people realised how much belief we had in ourselves," she said.
"We ticked away slowly and went about our business as underdogs and no one really took any notice of us.
"We knew our potential and I think it worked in our favour that others underestimated us."
Taurua will finish her commitments with the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Australia league before returning home to contemplate her netball future later in the year.
Newshub.
