Colorado Springs, Colo. (Nov. 27, 2017) – USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States, announced today changes to the U-20 Boys’ National Team coaching staff.

Head Coach Sam O’Brien recently stepped away from the team due to personal reasons. As a result, and after careful consideration of how to proceed, Assistant Coach Reid Koss will step into the head coaching role. Andy Neilsen will continue as an assistant coach. And after additional application reviews and interviews, Russell Wallack has been selected to be the team’s new assistant coach.

Wallack won a gold medal with the 2008 U.S. National Team at the World Junior Ultimate Championships in Vancouver and has been a fixture in the Massachusetts club scene for many years. He has competed with Boston Ironside, Amherst Dark or Light and Amherst Happy Valley over the last several years and won a National Championship title with Ironside in 2016. He has served as a coach for the University of Massachusetts’ men’s team, Zoodisc, since 2016.

The coaching staff for the girls’ U-20 National Team remains unchanged. DeAnna Ball is the head coach, with Jason Adams and Alyssa Weatherford serving as assistant coaches.

Selection assistants are also being chosen for each team. Selection assistants review applications and attend both tryout camps and help the coaches determine the final rosters. Selection assistants for the girls’ team are Stevie Miller and Jessi Jones. Alex Wells will serve as a selection assistant for the boys’ team, with a second assistant still to be determined.

The head coaches and assistant coaches were originally announced earlier this summer.

The 2018 World Junior Ultimate Championships, hosted by the World Flying Disc Federation, will be held Aug. 19-25, 2018, in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.