Wheelchair National Team

Dr. Ford Dyke, Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Mindfulness@Auburn in the School of Kinesiology at Auburn University, takes on the role of Head Coach. Dr. Dyke teaches courses in Pillars of Performance & Health, Motor Learning & Performance, and Exercise & Sport Psychology. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from his academic tenure and his 7-year career as an athlete on the USA Team Handball Men’s National Team.

Dr. Dyke began his journey in adapted athletics in 2012 as Strength & Conditioning Coach for Wheelchair Basketball at Auburn University. He was instrumental in launching Auburn’s first Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Team under Head Coach Jared Rehm. Over the next decade, Dr. Dyke continued to work with Auburn Adapted Athletics (Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Tennis, and Power Wheelchair Soccer). Currently, he serves as the Performance Coach under the direction of Head Coach Robb Taylor. Dr. Dyke values the collaboration with and mentorship of Coach Taylor. Notably, Coach Taylor has led the U.S. Wheelchair Basketball Men’s National Team to gold medals at the 2022 America's Cup, 2023 World Championship, and 2023 Parapan American Games, and is slated to lead the team to the 2024 Paralympics.

Olympian Lisa Eagen was a walk-on for the Iowa State Cyclone softball team, eventually earning a full scholarship and the role of Co-Captain her senior year. She was voted the Defensive Player of the Year in 1993, in addition to earning the Most Improved Player, Academic Scholarship Award and Cy Pride Award during her softball career. It was her softball coach, Deb Kuhn, who introduced her to team handball.

Olympian Eagen played on the USATH Women’s National Team for 10 years, highlighted by participation in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and winning a Gold medal at the 1995 Pan American Games. She then played handball semi-professionally in Europe, with two years in Norway and one year in Germany. Lisa captained the National Team for four years before retiring in 2003.

Olympian Eagen brings a unique quality to the staff with her 19-year experience of working with individuals with a variety of neuromuscular disorders, including spinal cord and brain injury. Her role as the Lead Exercise Physiologist in ProMotion Fitness at Shepherd Center, a nationally ranked rehabilitation hospital, includes promoting lifelong wellness through strengthening and education.

Dr. Sarah Gascon is a distinguished athlete with over two decades of representing the United States in international competitions. As a member of the USA Women's National Team Handball Team since 2005, she has captained the team for a decade, participating in two Pan American Games and over 125 international matches. Before her tenure with USA Team Handball, Dr. Gascon was a pivotal member of the inaugural USA Women's National Baseball Team, where she notably drove in the game-winning run in the Gold Medal game of the first World Cup of Women's Baseball.

Dr. Gascon earned her Doctorate in Kinesiology from Auburn University, where she conducted significant research on the biomechanics of overhead throwing athletes. Her undergraduate studies were completed at Southeastern Louisiana University, where she received a full athletic scholarship for volleyball and softball. She holds NCAA Division I records in defensive digs for a season and defensive digs per game (2002 and 2003). Dr. Gascon is a two-time All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana athlete in volleyball and a four-time All-Southland Conference and two-time All-Louisiana athlete in softball. Additionally, she earned All-Decade Team Honors for the Southland Conference in both sports. Dr. Gascon will now serve as the Team Official for the USA Team Handball Wheelchair National Team, continuing her legacy of excellence and leadership.