USA Team Handball Announces Initial Appointments to New Men’s National Team Coaching Staff, Launches New Era of Program Development

[Colorado Springs, CO – August 08, 2025] – USA Team Handball (USATH) is proud to announce the appointment of Mark Ortega as Program Director and Head Coach of the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team, alongside a world-class supporting staff that includes David Degouy (European Expert), Daniel Eggert (Team Leader), as well as Darrick Heath (National Team Talent Identification & Domestic Development Advisor), with additional appointments to follow.

"We take on the honor of leading program with the confidence and commitment to delivering what American Handball needs—a clear vision, a strong system, and a team of leaders that’s all in. We’ve made real progress, but now it’s time to take the next step," Ortega said. "This is about building something bigger than any one camp or tournament. It’s about creating a culture where American athletes believe they can compete with the best—and win.”

The group will lead the U.S. Men’s National Team through a critical next phase of high-performance development, including preparations for Nor.Ca 2026 and the long-term build toward LA28 and beyond.

Mark Ortega – Program Director & Head Coach

A veteran of the U.S. system with global credentials, Ortega brings a full-circle legacy to the role. A former U.S. Men's National Team Captain as an athlete (2004–2014), he earned his EHF Master Coach Certification, IHF A License, and Spain’s National License A while previously serving as Lead Assistant Coach of the Senior Men’s National Team from 2015–2022. Ortega also served as Head Coach of the US Junior Men’s National Team (2015–2018).

He has coached professionally with HV Kras Volendam (Netherlands), and has led stints at numerous programs domestically, including NYC Team Handball at the 2019 SuperGlobe, Los Angeles Team Handball at various major domestic & continental tournaments, and USMA-West Point during the 2023–2024 season. His early coaching roots trace back to The Ohio State University, where he led the program beginning in 2009.

David Degouy – European Expert

Degouy adds to the staff from the highest levels of the French professional system. Currently the Head Coach of USAM Nîmes Gard in the Ligue Nationale de Handball (LNH, France), he previously served as Assistant Coach at Montpellier Handball, helping guide the team to multiple Champions League quarterfinals, an EHF Final4, a Super Globe bronze, and leading the MHB Academy to U18 and U21 French national titles and finals.

Degouy also brings extensive national team experience, having served as Assistant Coach of Argentina’s Men’s National Team (2014–2017), high listed by strong performance at the IHF Senior World Championships and winning Pan American medals in 2014, 2015, and 2016. He has also previously supported the U.S. Women’s National Team (2013–2017), volunteering his expertise as a goalkeeper coach and video analyst.

Daniel Eggert – Team Leader

A Danish-born former professional player with a career spanning top European clubs and stints in U.S. competition, Eggert will lead athlete support and operational integration as Team Leader. He brings over a decade of playing experience in the 2. Bundesliga, BENE-League, and Håndbold Ligaen, with U.S. perspective and ties through time with Los Angeles Team Handball and San Francisco CalHeat, including the 2023 IHF Super Globe.
Eggert has coached at the academy level in Germany and Denmark, including successful youth programs and school-based development efforts. His trilingual fluency (English, German, Danish) and background advising professional athletes strengthen the team’s capacity to connect across environments. Outside handball, his successful professional background in finance and portfolio management brings added dimension to his support of the team and program.

Darrick Heath – National Team Talent Identification & Domestic Development Advisor

A 1996 Olympian and long-standing contributor to USA Team Handball, Heath will continue his impact on U.S. talent development from a new strategic position. He most recently served as 2nd Assistant Coach of the Men’s National Team and is currently assisting the U.S. Youth National Team at the U19 World Championships in Egypt. Heath’s new role will involve regular presence and contribution to domestic development efforts, ensuring continuity across age-group pipelines and leveraging his tremendous experience to deepen the integration of high-level domestic talent into the U.S. National team system.

“The staff being assembled is, without question, the most capable group to take on the real task at hand: elevating our current athletes, and transforming a shallow program that can surprise into a deep system with expectations--one that rises to the world-class standard of American talent and performance,” said Michael King, CEO of USA Team Handball.

The coaching appointments follow a comprehensive 11-week international search that involved extensive interviews, deep stakeholder engagement, and prioritized:

• Technical pedigree and coaching capability at the international level
• Comprehensive alignment with USATH’s high performance and 2028 Olympic Cycle goals
• Global talent activation and development among U.S. athletes, both domestically and abroad
• Athlete support, modern systems implementation, and cultural cohesion

The new staff will immediately begin preparations for the November 2025 National Team Week, which will serve as the opening phase of a fully integrated technical roadmap. This includes:

• Senior team development and performance objectives
• Integration of Junior, Youth, and Cadet pipelines
• Collegiate, club, and international talent identification systems

These appointments mark only the beginning of a broader expansion of the Men’s National Team staff and the USATH High Performance Department as a whole. Additional roles across technical development, athlete performance, and long-term player engagement support are in the process of being formalized, with announcements to follow.

This phased approach reflects both the complexity of the modern game and the need for sustained, structural investment in depth—across both personnel and programs. It is part of a holistic plan that will reach well beyond the senior team, reinforcing alignment from the international athlete pool to the newly launched Cadet (U17) National Team and throughout the domestic development pathway.

“While this announcement comes at the tail end of an exhaustive process, it is not the end point—it’s a launch point,” added King. “We’re building a system of continuity, expertise, and belief that extends far beyond any one event or appointment.”