In a move that comes full circle from the USOC’s NGB certification process in 2007, USA Team Handball has hired Mariusz Wartalowicz as the new USA Technical Director. As the Technical Director, Wartalowicz will oversee the development of the sport including club and regional competition, tournaments, coaching development and youth development.

In 2007, Wartalowicz, was the Board Chairman for the unsuccessful American Team Handball Association (ATHA) bid to become the new NGB for USA Team Handball. The ATHA bid lost out to the Utah Team Handball Foundation (UTHF) bid led by current USA Team Handball Board Chairman, Dieter Esch.

Although, the ATHA bid proposal was fairly well conceived it lacked the financial resources of the UTHF bid. Moreover, the bid’s chance of winning self destructed when a rift between other ATHA members (THN’s own Bogdan Pasat and Miami French League tournament organizer Christian Zaharia) resulted in their resignation. The cause of this rift was Wartalowicz’s failure to strongly state the willingness of the ATHA to work with all elements of the Handball community in the U.S. Obviously, in light of the recent hiring any lack of willingness (perceived or reality) to work with Mr. Esch has been resolved.

USOC Announcement: http://www.usateamhandball.org/news/index.html?article_id=89
Commentary of NGB Board Hearing: Do two halves make a whole?: http://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.381
Two ATHA Board Members Resign (NGB Bid Likely Over): http://teamhandballnews.com/comment-n387.html
Interview with Mariusz Wartalowicz (April 2007: http://teamhandballnews.com/news307.html