USA Ultimate

USA ULTIMATE SELECTS COACHES TO LEAD THREE DIVISIONS AT 2016 WUGC
Ghesquiere, Tsang Return to U.S. National Team, Henderson Tabbed as Mixed Coach

Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sept. 28, 2015)—USA Ultimate announced today the three head coaches that will lead the U.S. National Team at the 2016 WFDF World Ultimate & Guts Championships (WUGC), next summer in London.

Jake Henderson (Minneapolis, Minn.) was appointed head coach of the mixed team, while Alex Ghesquiere (Washington, D.C.) will lead the open team and Matty Tsang (Oakland, Calif.) will coach the women’s squad.

Henderson is the current head coach of two-time defending national champions in the mixed division, Drag’n Thrust, who enters this week’s USA Ultimate National Championships as the nation’s number one ranked team. Prior to taking on his coaching responsibilities, Henderson suited up for Drag’n Thrust as an athlete for four years as part of a long playing career in the mixed division that also included time with Apha Cobra Squadron (2008) and Flaming Moe (2006-07). He played collegiately and captained at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. 

Ghesquiere returns to the world stage as coach of the National Team after leading the United States to gold medals at both the 2013 World Games and the most recent WUGC in 2012. He also led his current team, Scandal, to a bronze medal in the women’s division of the 2014 World Ultimate Club Championships (WUCC), as well as two national titles in 2013 and 2014.  

As an athlete, Ghesquiere played for San Francisco Bay Area teams Jam and Revolver as well as Death or Glory in Boston. In 2010 Ghesquiere won both a world and national title with Revolver. 

"I’m very honored and excited to be selected as coach of the open division team", said Ghesquiere. "The talent and athleticism of USA Ultimate players will ensure that this will be a very strong team and we will certainly be aiming for gold. I look forward to forging this new team, representing the USA, and the excitement and intensity of the WUGC tournament."

Like Ghesquiere, Tsang returns to the U.S. National Team with a history of success on the international stage. Tsang served as assistant coach to Ghesquiere during their successful World Games campaign and led the U.S. National Team to a world title in the women’s division at the 2008 WUGC and a silver medal at the 2012 edition.  Domestically, Tsang recently retired as the most successful coach in the history of women’s club division ultimate, leading Fury to seven straight national titles (2006-12), a world championship in 2010, and a silver medal at the 2014 WUCC.

"I am honored to be selected as the head coach of the women’s national team", added Tsang. "This is a unique opportunity and I am excited to work with USA Ultimate and the athletes in creating a team that exemplifies the best of our sport, both on and off the field."

Next year’s WUGC is scheduled for June 18-25 in London. 

USA Ultimate will field five teams for the 2016 WUGC in the mixed, open, women’s, open masters and women’s masters divisions. 2016 marks the first time USA Ultimate will hold tryouts and select teams for the mixed, open and women’s divisions. The open and women’s masters divisions will be represented by the most recent national champions – Boneyard (Raleigh, N.C.) and Baylands (San Francisco, Calif.). 

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