Learn the rules of the fast-paced, high-scoring sport of Wheelchair Handball!
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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 Reita Clanton, who has an impressive athletic and coaching career, will be the team's assistant coach. In 1974, she earned Outstanding College Athlete of America recognition. By 1975, she had been selected for the USA Team Handball Women’s National Team, representing the United States in two World Championships and the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. The USOPC honored her as the Sportswoman of the Year for USA Team Handball in 1985. A decade later, in 1996, she was named an Olympic Coach for USA Team Handball. In 1997, Olympian Clanton was inducted into the Tiger Trail of Auburn University. Her partnership with Dr. Dyke began in 2013, and together they bring unparalleled knowledge, expertise, and passion to the U.S. Wheelchair National Team.
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.
Eric Finch started his Team Handball journey in 2013 which led to competing with the USA Team Handball Men's National Team as a goalkeeper on the international stage. While an engineering student at Auburn University, Eric helped start the Auburn Team Handball Club and worked his way up to the national team roster. Competing in several tournaments with the indoor team, he also transitioned to the USA Team Handball Men's Beach National Team before retiring as an athlete, including competing in the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games, the World Championship of Beach Sports. Most recently having run in the Berlin marathon, Eric has stayed active beyond his athletic career and continued to work closely with Ford Dyke on Human Performance Optimization initiatives for both athletic and entrepreneurial endeavors. He brings 7 years of international handball goalkeeping experience to his role as the Goalkeeper Coach for the Wheelchair National Team.
Camden Bentley is the Head Athletic Trainer and Strength & Conditioning Coach for Auburn Adapted Athletics at Auburn University. Bentley received a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from James Madison University and completed his graduate degree at Auburn University. Additionally, he has served on the medical staff for the U.S. Wheelchair Basketball Men’s National Team under the direction of Head Coach Robb Taylor. Bentley and Dr. Dyke work directly with Auburn Adapted Athletics, maintaining a strong professional relationship that will benefit the U.S. Wheelchair National Team.
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.
USA Team Handball is excited to announce the roster for the upcoming 3rd IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championship, set to be held in Cairo, Egypt from September 16th to 21st. Ten athletes were selected to represent the United States at the event.The ...
The inaugural United States Wheelchair Handball National Team has learned its group stage path for the upcoming 3rd IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championship, slotted into Group A alongside Brazil, Japan, and France. At the draw held on July 18th at t...
USA Team Handball has announced the inaugural Wheelchair National Team Player Pool. While varying in age, all of the athletes have prior adaptive athletics experience, having competed in wheelchair basketball, tennis, and rugby, among others....
Coaching StaffToday, USA Team Handball is thrilled to name the inaugural coaching staff of the U.S. Wheelchair National Team. Dr. Ford Dyke is named Head Coach, Reita Clanton, OLY Assistant Coach, and Camden Bentley Head Athletic Trainer and Strength &...
(Colorado Springs, June 6, 2024) - USA Team Handball, a member of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, is excited to announce the establishment of the U.S. Wheelchair National Team, the newest milestone in USATH’s mission of providing opportuniti...
