The German Volleyball Federation (DVV) has appointed Alexander Waibl as the new head coach of the women’s national team.
Waibl, who has been the head coach at Dresdner SC since 2009, takes over from Vital Heynen after Heynen requested to terminate his contract unexpectedly.
New national team head coach is set to lead the team until at least the end of August, with no plans for him to juggle dual roles as both a league and national team coach beyond the summer. “We are thrilled to have Alex, an outstanding and very experienced German coach, whom the team also desired,” commented Jaromir Zachrich, DVV Sports Director.
Waibl expressed his excitement about his new role, stating, “It has always been my dream to be a national coach in Germany; it is an honor to represent my country.”
The announcement comes shortly after Vital Heynen’s departure, which surprised the federation given his significant contributions to German volleyball. Heynen had led the German men’s team and made a recent shift to coaching women’s volleyball in early 2022. “We regret his decision, especially at this time, but we respect it and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Zachrich added.
The German women’s team is gearing up for the crucial VNL season starting April 20, where they aim to improve their world ranking and qualify for the Paris Olympics. Waibl remains optimistic despite the challenges, stating, “The starting position is tough, but we have the players to achieve it. Our goal is clear: we want to make the Olympics possible.”
