Colorado Springs, Colo. (April 17, 2018) – USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States and proud member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is in search of head coaches for the 2019 U-24 Mixed and Women’s National Teams.

Following huge successes at the 2018 World Under 24 Ultimate Championships, Bob Krier will again lead the U-24 Men’s National Team in 2019. Martin Aguilera and Alex Snyder, head coaches of the 2018 U-24 Mixed and Women’s National Teams, respectively, have each elected to step down from their positions.

“Getting to work with this program and this age group is the single most rewarding part of my 20-plus-year engagement with ultimate,” said Aguilera. “Everyone that has graced the delegations I have been a part of has been great, but the players on USX will hold a place in my heart for the rest of my life…While I am sad to step away and focus on other things, I am excited for future players and coaches and look forward to cheering them on.”

Aguilera was a three-time head coach of the U-24 Mixed National Team, leading the team to gold in 2013, 2015 and 2018, as well as a spirit award at the 2013 World Under-23 Ultimate Championships. 2018 was Snyder’s debut as a national team head coach after serving as an assistant coach for the U-24 Mixed National Team in 2015. She helped her teams earn gold in both years. We would like to thank both coaches for the time and dedication they have given to the national team program over the years, as well as their incredible accomplishments.

“The opportunity to coach the U-24 U.S.A. women’s team was a true honor and a joy!” commented Snyder. “These women represented their communities, teams and most importantly their country in a truly inspiring way on and off the field, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more as a coach. The future is blindingly bright.”

The U.S. National Team program, including the recruitment and retention of national team coaches, evolves each year. Beginning with the 2019 U-24 National Team, USA Ultimate is tweaking the way coaches are selected, thanks in part to input from other national governing bodies of sport. Going forward, and including the 2018 U-24 coaches, head coaches from the most recent cycle will be reviewed by a panel that includes previous national team coaches and USA Ultimate staff. Players from the relevant cycle will also be included whenever possible. The panel will evaluate head coaches with the understanding that if he or she is the right coach, they will be offered the opportunity to return for the next cycle, helping build consistency in team culture.

All three 2018 U-24 coaches were asked to return. Krier accepted his role with the men’s team, leaving opportunities for new mixed and women’s head coaches. USA Ultimate is accepting head coach applications now through Sunday, April 29.

Assistant coach applications will open after head coaches are selected.

The dates and location for the 2019 World Under 24 Ultimate Championships have not yet been decided. The next international event for the U.S. National Teams is the World Junior Ultimate Championships set for Aug. 19-25 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.