Learn from coaches who’ve played at the highest level

Dawn Allinger Lewis dedicated more than a decade to the U.S. Women’s National Team, earning 111 international caps and helping Team USA capture the gold medal at the 1995 Pan American Games, securing qualification for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Allinger Lewis began her handball career in 1991 and was selected to the U.S. Women’s National Team in 1993 as a defensive specialist. She later trained and competed as a center back, representing the United States at the 1993 and 1995 World Championships. In addition to her Pan American Games gold medal in 1995, she competed on the 1999 and 2003 U.S. Pan American teams that finished fourth.

From 1996 to 1998, Allinger Lewis played professionally in Norway and Germany, gaining valuable experience in two of the world’s premier handball nations. Domestically, she earned Most Valuable Player honors at the U.S. National Team Handball Championships in 1994 and 1999 and won five national championships and five gold medals during her playing career.

Following her competitive career, Allinger Lewis continued to serve the sport through coaching, leadership and athlete development. She has held assistant and interim head coaching positions with the U.S. Women’s National Team, coached youth athletes in Norway, and contributed to athlete development through USA Team Handball’s Futures Program.

Her impact on the sport extends beyond coaching and competition. Allinger Lewis has served as a handball analyst for NBC Universal and its affiliates during five Olympic Games. Within USA Team Handball, she has served on the Board of Directors, as Vice President for Women, and on both the Competition Committee and Coaches Selection Committee. Internationally, she was elected to the inaugural International Handball Federation (IHF) Athletes’ Commission and later served on the IHF Women’s Working Group.

A graduate of Washington State University, Allinger Lewis earned a degree in Sport Management with minors in Coaching and Business. As a student-athlete, she was selected to the Washington State Women’s Basketball All-Decade Team, earned three Pac-10 All-Academic honors and was named team captain while helping lead the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament. Her academic and leadership achievements earned numerous honors, including the College of Education Golden Romney Award, the inaugural Strength and Conditioning Award for Dedication, a Presidential Leadership Award nomination and an NCAA Women’s Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship.

While pursuing her master’s degree in Athletic Administration, Allinger Lewis served as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Montana State University from 1991 to 1993. During her tenure, the Bobcats won the 1992 Big Sky Conference Championship and earned the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. That historic team was inducted into the Montana State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023.

A graduate of Bozeman High School, Allinger Lewis excelled in basketball, volleyball, and track and field, earning USA Today Montana Athlete of the Year honors. She remains committed to her community as a founding member of the Bozeman High School Alumni Association, a former member of the Bozeman Schools Foundation Board of Directors, and a mentor with Thrive.

Professionally, Allinger Lewis has also contributed to Olympic sport development and athlete programming. She served as Manager of Sport at Utah Olympic Park, the venue for bobsled, skeleton, luge, ski jumping and freestyle skiing during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. She later served as Community Olympic Development Program (CODP) Manager, helping create pathways and opportunities for aspiring athletes.

Through every role she has held — athlete, coach, administrator, broadcaster and advocate — Dawn Allinger Lewis has remained dedicated to growing the sport she loves and inspiring others to pursue their own handball journey. Dawn and her husband, Mark, reside in Bozeman with their children, Peyton and Dylan, along with their dog, Dutch, and cat, Alfredo.

Lisa Eagen was a walk-on for the Iowa State Cyclones softball team, eventually earning a full scholarship and the role of co-captain her senior year. She was voted Defensive Player of the Year in 1993, in addition to earning the Most Improved Player, Academic Scholarship Award and Cy Pride Award during her softball career. Eagen was introduced to handball by her softball coach, Deb Kuhn, who was part of the USA Team Handball Women’s National Team in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Eagen played on the USA Team Handball Women’s National Team for 10 years, highlighted by participation in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and winning a gold medal at the 1995 Pan American Games. She then played handball semi-professionally in Europe, with two years in Norway and one year in Germany. Lisa captained the National Team for four years before retiring in 2003.

Serving as an assistant coach, Eagen helped guide the USA Team Handball Wheelchair National Team to a historic silver medal at the 2024 IHF Wheelchair Handball World Championships in Cairo during the program’s inaugural season.

Eagen has been an active part of Handball Futures, serving on the Board of Directors and the Recruiting Committee, and as Chair of the Mentorship Program. She resides in Marietta, Georgia, with her wife, Amy, their dog, Jojo, and two cats, Mayor and Doc. Her role as Lead Exercise Physiologist in ProMotion Fitness at Shepherd Center, a nationally ranked rehabilitation hospital, includes promoting lifelong wellness through strengthening and education.

Wade Sutton is a highly accomplished handball coach and former USA National Team player with more than two decades of experience developing collegiate athletes. Since 2002, he has led the University of North Carolina Women’s Team Handball Club, guiding them to multiple national championships and medal finishes. As an assistant coach for the USA Men’s National Team (2011–2012), he contributed to the team’s Pan American Games campaign.

A dedicated mentor, Sutton has helped numerous players transition to the USA National Team while fostering a strong club culture through recruitment, fundraising and tournament organization. His leadership continues to shape the future of American handball.

Highlights

• Head Coach, UNC Women’s Team Handball Club, Chapel Hill, N.C. (2002–present)
• College National Champions: 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2025, plus multiple silver medals
• Open Nationals: silver medal (2022); bronze medals (2005, 2013, 2015)
• Assistant Coach, USA Men’s National Team, Lake Placid, N.Y. (2011–2012), including the 2011 Pan American Games
• Member of the 1999 and 2002 USA National Team
• Several former Carolina players have gone on to the USA National Team

Stephanie Moreno is an IHF-certified coach and former national team athlete with more than two decades of experience in the sport. A lifelong advocate for handball, she serves as head coach for New York City Team Handball and is spearheading the launch of the Brooklyn Community Handball Academy in 2026 to expand local access to the sport.

Stephanie is dedicated to growing the game at both the grassroots and elite levels, with a coaching philosophy centered on technical excellence, empowerment and building a vibrant, collaborative team culture.

With decades of experience at the highest levels of handball, Chris Cappelmann brings unmatched expertise and leadership to the Handball Futures Festival. A former U.S. Men’s National Team captain (1989–1991) and coach across multiple Pan American Games, Olympic Festivals and national team programs, he has guided athletes to success on both the national and international stage. As a coach dedicated to developing talent, his impact spans from youth teams to elite competition, shaping the future of handball in the U.S.

Highlights

• U.S. Men’s National Team player (1985–1991); captain (1989–1991)
• Assistant Coach, Men’s National Team: 1991 Pan American Games (bronze) and 1992 Cuba Cup
• Head Coach, Empire State Games: 1992 (silver) and 1993 (gold)
• Head Coach, Olympic Festival Men’s East: 1993 (gold), 1994 (gold), 1995 (bronze)
• Youth Coach, Cobb County 13U and 16U boys, Partille Cup (1996)
• Head Coach, Men’s National Team (1996–1999), including the 1999 Pan American Games (bronze)
• Assistant Coach, Women’s National Team (2003), including the 2003 Pan American Games (bronze)
• Head Coach, Men’s National Team at the 2007 Pan American Games qualifier
• Head Coach, Women’s National Team: 2010 qualifier (qualified vs. Canada) and 2011 Pan American Games
• Head Coach, New York Athletic Club men’s team (current)

Meg Sanders, 1988 Olympian, brings a lifetime of elite experience and passion to the Handball Futures Festival. Her journey began at the Club National Championships and led her to Colorado Springs, where she trained as a resident athlete in pursuit of the 1988 Olympic Games. She has since dedicated herself to growing the sport — founding handball clubs, teaching the game and coaching at the Olympic Festival.

With more than 30 years as a college women’s basketball coach, Meg has dedicated her career to shaping athletes, not just as competitors, but as confident, resilient leaders. As a founding board member of Handball Futures, she continues to invest in the next generation, driven by a belief in the power of sport to transform lives.

With an extensive background in coaching, development and international competition, Martin Bilello is a driving force behind the growth of handball in the United States. As Head Coach of the U.S. Youth Men’s National Team since 2022, he has led the team to historic achievements, including the first-ever U.S. victory at the IHF Youth World Championships and a gold medal at the 2024 IHF Trophy.

National team and international

• Head Coach, USA Team Handball Youth Men’s National Team (2022–present)
• Head Coach, USA Team Handball Youth Men’s Beach Handball National Team (2022)
• Head of Delegation, USA Senior Women’s Team, World Championship Qualifiers, Chicago (2021)
• Assistant Coach, USA Junior Men’s Team, World Championships, Spain (2019)
• Assistant Coach, USA Youth Men’s Team, Pan American Championships, Chile (2017)
• Organized the West Regional Evaluation Camp for Youth and Junior National Team players for the 2018 IHF Trophy
• Lecturer, North America and the Caribbean Handball Confederation (2023–present) and USA Team Handball (2024–present)

Club, college and youth

• Head Coach, San José State University Team Handball Club (2023–present)
• San Francisco CalHeat: Men’s 2nd team head coach (2022–present); Women’s head coach (2017–18) and assistant coach (2015–17); head of delegation for the Youth Elite team and the B15 team at the 2019 Partille Cup
• Youth coach: Pioneer High School (2019–present) and Castillero (2017–present), John Muir (2022–present) and Herbert Hoover (2023–present) middle school U14 teams
• Head Coach, Houston Community College men’s team, establishing the first Texas Team Handball League
• Coach, Colegio San José Youth and Cadet boys teams (Argentina)

Certifications and awards

• 2022 USA Team Handball Coach of the Year
• IHF Trophy Course for Coaches certificates (Puerto Rico, 2024; Mexico, 2022)
• COSCABAL & NACHC International Handball Seminar certification
• Certified USA Team Handball Level 1 Coach; ENEHA Coaching Level 2 (Argentina)
• NFHS Accredited Interscholastic Coach
• Attended the 2019 IHF Coaches Symposium in Germany
• 2017–18 SF CalHeat Volunteer of the Year

NamSoo Lee is a highly accomplished former South Korean National Team athlete and an experienced coach who brings more than 10 years of elite international competition experience to the Handball Futures Festival coaching staff. As a 10-year veteran of the South Korean National Team, Lee represented South Korea at the highest levels of international handball, including the Olympic Games, World Championships and Asian Games.

Lee was a key member of the national team that finished fourth at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and contributed to two Asian Games gold medals, in 1998 and 2002. Throughout an outstanding athletic career, Lee earned multiple individual honors, including MVP, Rookie of the Year and Best 7 recognition.

Beyond handball, Lee has contributed to the broader sports community through more than 10 years of volunteer service as a swimming official. Lee holds an M.A. in Education from Sogang University in Seoul and is passionate about mentoring young athletes and helping them develop technical skills, discipline, leadership, resilience and confidence on and off the court.

Career highlights

• Olympian: 4th place, 2000 Sydney Olympic Games
• Two-time Asian Games gold medalist (1998, 2002)
• World Championships: 1997, 1999, 2001
• Women’s Junior World Championship gold medalist (1993)
• Asian Junior Championship gold medalist (1992)
• Individual honors: MVP, Rookie of the Year, Best 7 / All-Star Team