Alexander Waibl is the new national coach of the German volleyball players. His predecessor Vital Heynen had asked the German Volleyball Association (DVV) to terminate his contract at short notice. Waibl, who has been head coach of Dresdner SC in the women’s Bundesliga since 2009, will initially take over the national team until the end of August; a dual role as Bundesliga and national coach beyond the summer is not planned. “We are pleased to have gained an excellent and very experienced German coach in Alex, who the team also wanted,” says Jaromir Zachrich, DVV sports director. Waibl, who was born in Stuttgart, led the Dresden women to the German championship in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2021. He won the DVV Cup with them in 2016, 2018 and 2020. In the current season, Dresden was eliminated in the playoff semi-finals against Stuttgart.
Heynen is leaving the association at a surprising time. The Belgian was the coach of the German men from 2012 to 2016 and led them to World Cup bronze. At the beginning of 2022 he returned to the DVV and dared to switch to women’s volleyball. “We very much regret his decision – especially at this time – but we respect it and wish him all the best for his professional future,” said Zachrich.
From April 20th, the German women will be preparing for the Nations League in Kienbaum. In order to fulfill their dream of the Olympic Games in Paris, they have to gain points and places in the world rankings with victories. “The starting position is difficult, but we have the players with whom we can do it,” says Waibl: “We still want to make the Olympics possible.”