Colorado Springs, Colo. (July 20, 2023)—USA Ultimate announced today the four head coaches that will lead the U.S. National Team throughout the next cycle of elite-level international events, including the 2024 WFDF World Ultimate Championships and the 2025 World Games.
Nancy Sun (women’s), John Groess (mixed) and Ben Van Heuvelen (open) were selected as the three head coaches for the world championships and Matty Tsang will return as head coach of Team USA for the World Games.
Most recently, Sun served as the head coach of the U-24 National Team in the women’s division, leading them to a world title earlier this month in the United Kingdom. One of the most decorated coaches in Team USA history, Sun has served as either a head coach, assistant coach or selection assistant on nine different coaching staffs.
As head coach, she also led the women’s team to a gold medal at the 2019 U-24 World Championships. As an assistant, she helped guide Team USA to gold medals in the women’s division at the 2018 U-24 World Championships and in the mixed division at the 2016 World Ultimate Championships and 2015 U-23 World Championships. Sun was also set to serve as the head coach of the women’s team at the 2021 U-24 World Championships and an assistant coach of the mixed team at the 2020 World Championships – both of which were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sun also served as a selection assistant for the 2017 and 2022 World Games squads. Overall, she has compiled a perfect 51-0 record as a coach for the National Team program.
Relatively new to the Team USA coaching ranks, Groess was recently appointed as the head coach of the mixed team for the World Beach Ultimate Championships later this fall. Previously, he served as a selection assistant for the mixed team that was set to represent the United States at the 2020 World Championships.
Another veteran of the Team USA program, Van Heuvelen returns to the helm after seven previous appointments. He served as head coach of the U-20 National Team in the open division three times, leading the team to a combined 27-0 record and three gold medals in 2008, 2010 and 2012. Prior to that, he coached the U-20 open team to a gold medal as an assistant in 2006. At the elite level, Van Heuvelen served as an assistant for the open team at the 2004 and 2016 World Ultimate Championships, helping the team win silver and gold respectively. He was also named head coach of the open team in 2020.
Tsang returns to lead the World Games Team after a successful 2022 campaign that saw Team USA win gold on its home soil in Alabama last summer. He previously served as assistant coach for the World Games Team in 2013 and 2017, winning the gold both times. As head coach of the women’s team at the World Ultimate Championships, Tsang compiled a 29-4 record, leading the team to gold medals in 2008 and 2016 and silver in 2012.
The 2024 World Ultimate Championships are scheduled for August 31 to September 7 in Gold Coast, Australia. The 2025 World Games are set to be held August 7-17 in Chengdu, China.
Following the appointment of head coaches, USA Ultimate is now accepting applications for assistant coaches and selection assistants for the World Ultimate Championships. Interested coaches must apply via the link below by Monday, August 7.
