USA Team Handball Announces Development Programs National Team Staff for 2026–2027 Cycle

USA Team Handball is pleased to announce the appointment of its Development Programs National Team staff for the 2026–2027 cycle, setting the leadership structure for the federation’s Cadet (U17), Youth (U19), and Junior (U21) national team programs.

The appointments mark an important step forward as USA Team Handball continues to strengthen its athlete pathway and build continuity across the development pipeline. The 2026–2027 cycle will feature a blend of returning leadership, international playing and coaching experience, and deep commitment to grassroots and youth handball development in the United States.

Cadet (U17) National Team

Leading the first full cycle of the Cadet (U17) National Team will be Mohsen Babasafari, former goalkeeper and captain of the Iranian National Team. Since arriving in the United States, Babasafari has been an active and respected figure in the handball community, contributing both at the senior club level and in youth grassroots development in the Los Angeles area over several years.

He will be assisted by Myles Bacon, an alumnus and longtime Head Coach of Carolina Team Handball at UNC-Chapel Hill. Now based in San Diego, Bacon brings additional strength in scholastic and youth development, further reinforcing the program’s commitment to building the sport from the ground up.

Also continuing in a valuable supporting role will be Martin Bilello, who served as Head Coach of the U19 and U17 programs during the last cycle. Now working in a handball role with LA28, Bilello will remain involved with the national team pathway in a Team Leader and broader supportive capacity, ensuring continuity and experience remain embedded within the program.

Youth (U19) National Team

For the Youth (U19) National Team, Max Paulus will serve as Head Coach, building on his work from the previous cycle and his international head coaching debut as interim head coach at the 2025 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship in Egypt. Paulus has been a key figure in the development pathway and now takes on the lead role for the new cycle.

He will again be joined on the bench by Soren Mueller, who returns as assistant coach for the program that captured Bronze at the 2025 IHF U19 Intercontinental Trophy in Kosovo. Both Paulus and Mueller are longtime veterans of SF CalHeat, each with extensive experience as coach and player, bringing a strong handball foundation and familiarity with the American development environment.

Joining the U19 staff is Benjamin Briffe, who adds further high-level experience to the group. Briffe brings a background as a top-level player in France, previous selection to the USMNT, and a longtime standout with New York City Handball, adding another experienced voice to one of USA Team Handball’s most important developmental stages.

Junior (U21) National Team

The Junior (U21) National Team staff will return intact following a highly successful last cycle. After leading the program to an IHF Intercontinental Trophy gold medal and a bronze medal at the Junior Pan American Games, the team will again be led by Head Coach Danilo Rojevic, Assistant Coach Julio Sainz, and Team Leader Christa Ingram.

Their return brings proven continuity and momentum to a program that has already demonstrated meaningful competitive progress on the international stage.

Building the Pathway Forward

Together, the appointments reflect USA Team Handball’s continued investment in a stronger and more connected national team development structure. With experienced leaders across all three age groups, the federation is positioned to support athlete identification, training, and international preparation throughout the 2026–2027 cycle and beyond.

All staffs' work is underway, as the U21 and U19 programs await final information on the IHF Continental Phase and World Championship qualifiers in fall of 2026, while the U17 will also look to return to the World Championships via a NACHC qualifier to be held in early 2027.

As USA Team Handball continues building toward long-term success on the world stage, the Development Programs staff will play a central role in preparing the next generation of national team athletes and strengthening the overall pipeline for the future.