Coaching Moves After the Olympic Winter Games: National Teams Adjust Ahead of New Season

In the aftermath of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 and the 2025/26 World Cup season, national alpine teams are making their moves behind the scenes, adjusting coaching staffs and preparing for a new Olympic cycle.

USA: Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team Names Men’s Head Coach

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team has appointed Phil McNichol as the new head coach of the men’s alpine programme, marking a return for one of the most experienced figures in international skiing. McNichol previously led the US men’s team from 2002 to 2008, overseeing one of the most successful periods in programme history, including two second-place finishes in the Nations Cup standings. Most recently, he served as Alpine Canada’s alpine director, helping guide both the men’s and women’s teams between 2019 and 2022. The appointment signals a renewed focus on experience and long-term programme building as the US team begins the next Olympic cycle.

In a further series of leadership updates ahead of the 2026–27 season, the programme has named Sasha Rearick as The Borgen Family Alpine Director and Paul Epstein as Men’s Head Tech Coach. Rearick returns after more than two decades in coaching and performance roles within U.S. Ski & Snowboard, including a 10-year stint as head men’s coach and most recently as Alpine Performance Director at APEX2100 International Ski Academy. Epstein joins after 13 years leading Global Racing, where he developed multiple athletes into World Cup performers and national team contributors, including Belgium’s Sam Maes. Reflecting on his appointment, Epstein said: “I’m looking forward to entering a new chapter of my coaching career. For many years, I’ve worked to support U.S. skiing from the outside. Now, being directly involved in the men’s World Cup tech team’s progress is incredibly motivating.” Together, the appointments underline a continued emphasis on strengthening culture, development pathways and long-term competitiveness across the men’s alpine programme.

A full staff announcement will be made this fall.

Austria: Assinger to join the men's Europa Cup speed team

Roland Assinger, who contributed to Austria’s successful Giant Slalom Globe campaign last season through his work with Julia Scheib, is set to move on from his role within the World Cup women’s set-up. He will take over leadership of Austria’s Europa Cup men’s speed group, overseeing the development of downhill and super-G prospects as they work towards the World Cup level. With recent experience at the top of the World Cup circuit, Assinger now shifts his focus to strengthening the transition pathway between Europa Cup and elite racing. His departure comes as Austria retains continuity in its World Cup coaching structure while reinforcing its long-term development framework.

Hannes Zöchling will take over as women’s head coach from 1 May, succeeding Assinger in the role.

Finland: Slivnik makes return to a system he knows well

Ski Sport Finland has appointed Slovenian coach Janez Slivnik as Head Coach of the Fearless Finns men’s alpine team, marking a return to a system he already knows well. Slivnik will be responsible for the World Cup performance of the technical group, while also coordinating and supporting the wider structure of Finland’s men’s national teams. Bringing strong top-level international experience back into the programme, his appointment is seen as a key step in building continuity and competitiveness heading into the next Olympic cycle. “I know the team has great potential to reach the very top. It was an easy decision to say yes to Finland,” Slivnik said.

Switzerland: Ablanalp to leave the women's speed team

Swiss Ski’s women’s World Cup speed group will undergo a leadership change ahead of the 2026/27 season, with Silvan Epp set to take over from Stefan Abplanalp. Epp returns to a familiar environment, having previously worked with the Swiss speed group between 2016 and 2018, and later across multiple national programme roles, including within the men’s team structure and regional development centres.

Abplanalp, who rejoined Swiss-Ski in spring 2025, guided the group through a demanding season marked by injuries, comebacks and fluctuating results, but also highlighted by podium performances from Corinne Suter and a breakthrough World Cup win for Malorie Blanc.

Andorra: former athlete Zrncic-Dim joins Setup

Former Croatian skier Natko Zrncic-Dim, a former Nordic combined specialist born in 1986 who retired from competition in 2019, has officially taken over from Juan Lago as technical director of the Andorran national team. A five-time World Cup podium finisher in his discipline and bronze medallist at the 2009 World Championships in Val d’Isère, Zrncic-Dim also brings prior coaching experience with the Slovenian national team, adding valuable top-level insight to his new role. His appointment is expected to support the work of coach Josh Alayrach, who continues to guide Carla Mijares and now also takes on a key role in the development of Joan Verdú.