Stefan Horngacher is returning to Poland after his seven-year interlude as national ski jumping coach. The Polish Ski Association confirmed this decision on Monday afternoon after weeks of mystery surrounding the Austrian’s open future dominated the headlines. But the new role for the 56-year-old is surprising.
“Stefan Horngacher is returning to Polish ski jumping!” the association announced in an official statement on the short message service
Instead, “Stefan will act more as a coach, but in the role of a coordinator of the entire training system. Someone who will be above everything and give advice, while the athletes will continue to have their coaches at their side as direct contacts,” the Polish Ski Association’s statement continued. The term “sports director” is not used in this context.
Stefan Horngacher as “coordinator of the training system”
“In collaboration with the coaching staff, the PZN board developed the principles and approved the approach. Stefan Horngacher has already started his work in Poland and will act as coordinator of the training system,” says the PZN, limiting the tasks of the experienced trainer.
Horngacher will “work closely with the coaches of the national teams,” it continues: “The cooperation model provides for a clear division of responsibilities, a defined area of competence and clearly defined, measurable sporting goals.” This is the result of “intensive negotiations between the Polish association and the Austrian coach”.
Stefan Horngacher had already worked as a national coach in Poland between 2016 and 2019. After a horror season for the Polish ski jumpers, in which only super talent Kacper Tomasiak was able to convince, the long-time national coach is now supposed to implement a “long-term vision for how the training system works”.
