Raabe Hired as Manager-Youth & Education Programs
Posted: May 11, 2015 01:11 PM
Colorado Springs, Colo. (May 11, 2015) – USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States, announced today the hiring of a new team member in the competition and athlete programs department.
Dan Raabe was named the new Manager – Youth & Education Programs and will oversee USA Ultimate’s programs related to youth outreach, development and education. His responsibilities will include the management and promotion of existing programs including the Learn to Play program, Girls’ Ultimate Movement and USA Ultimate day camps, in addition to the development of new and innovative programs designed to expose the sport of ultimate to youth and inspire them to play. Raabe will also be responsible for USA Ultimate’s education programs including the Coaching Development Program (CDP), Observer Certification Program and Ultimate Long-Term Athlete (ULTRA) Development Plan, in addition to outreach efforts and the continued development of strategic partnerships with groups such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs and Boy Scouts of America.
"Over the years, I have found many ways to be an advocate for the growth of youth ultimate," said Raabe. "Working with USA Ultimate will allow me to continue to pursue this passion on a national level. I am very excited for this opportunity and look forward to working with the large number of individuals across the country who share in this passion."
Raabe is a well-known figure in the ultimate community. He has been an educator for more than 20 years. For the past 18, he has been a teacher at James Madison Memorial High School in Madison, Wis., where he taught U.S. history, economics, AP microeconomics and AP macroeconomics. During that time, he also started and has developed the high school’s ultimate club which now averages 60-70 participants each year. Raabe also founded the Madison Fall Classic tournament which ran from 1999-2005 and launched what is now the longest-running high school tournament in the Midwest, Madison MudBath, in 2002.
Raabe served as a member of the Madison Ultimate Frisbee Association Board of Directors for more than 10 years, has been a Youth Club Championships coach and director of multiple local youth leagues in the Madison area. In addition, he has been a longtime volunteer with USA Ultimate, working as a CDP instructor since 2004, a member of the 2005 advisory committee that rewrote the CDP curriculum and a member of the 2002 advisory committee that created a strategic plan for developing youth ultimate nationwide.
Raabe earned his bachelor’s degree in economics at Colgate University and holds a master’s degree in education with an emphasis on economics from Edgewood College.
"We’re thrilled to be adding Dan to the team and know that his depth of experience as a coach, coach trainer, educator and local youth organizer will help our education and youth outreach programs continue to grow and evolve," said USA Ultimate Managing Director of Competition and Athlete Programs Will Deaver. "As a highly respected member of the ultimate community, Dan will bring not only experience, but leadership and a passion to spread the sport and its values to coaches, teachers, parents and young athletes around the country."
Raabe will join the USA Ultimate headquarters team in Colorado Springs in mid-June, after the conclusion of the current school year and relocating from Madison, Wis.
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