(From left to right: Frédéric Bernabo and Michaël Grandchamp, Women’s US National Team’s New Co-headcoaches. Photo from Men’s WFCQ 2022 in Latvia)
Frédéric Bernabo and Michaël Grandchamp Named As Co-headcoaches for Women’s US National Team.The Women’s US National Team is excited to share news of their new co-headcoaches: Michaël Grandchamp and Frédéric Bernabo. These two will make their US coaching debut vs. Team Canada in The World Games Qualifiers (TWGQ), a competition occurring every (4) years. The new (3) game series will take place in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada between August 2nd - 4th, 2024.
Working within a two-year contract cycle, they are looking forward to getting to know the team, and working on not only developing each player individually but also the team as a whole. In order to keep growing the team's talent base they also want to focus on integrating future youth players into the adult national team. Mike & Fred's goal for the upcoming TWGQ is to qualify for the first ever women’s Floorball component of The World Games in 2025. This will be the third time men’s Floorball is included in TWG and the first time for the women’s side.
Beyond TWG, the coaches endeavor to lead the team to a win against Canada in the 2025 stateside World Floorball Championship Qualifiers (WFCQ), exact date and location TBD. Winners advance to the WFC in Czech Republic in December of 2025. Women’s Team USA has advanced over Canada for the past (4) WFC qualifiers and hope to keep up that momentum.
Here’s a little bit more about the coaches: Mike is 32 years old and has been playing Floorball for (15) years. His experience includes competing within Switzerland's Division 1 and 2 teams, as well as being a two-time champion in Belgium (cup + championship), and in the UK. As far as coaching is concerned, he has been the head coach of the Belgian Women's National Team for (7) years, and is currently the coach of the Yverdon women's Division 1 team. Professionally, Mike is a baker, and currently an ice-cream maker. His hobbies include painting, walking in the mountains, tennis, and going out with friends.
Fred is a married father of (2) teenagers, ages 16 and 14 years old. He began playing floorball back in 1980 and has been coaching for the last (6) years. He has experience coaching various age groups from junior U10 to U18 within the top Swiss Division, regional selection teams U13 and U15, and also the Belgian Women’s National Team. Today Fred is a trainer/coach for U18 within the elite Swiss level. Professionally, Fred works in IT, and is also accredited by the International Coaching Federation. His hobbies include family time and Floorball, and squeezes in sometime to be an epicurean.
The United States Floorball Association is excited for what is to come from these two gentleman during this time of growth for the Women’s US National Team.
