Olympians, national team captains and championship-winning club coaches — the 2027 Handball Futures Festival coaching staff brings decades of experience at every level of Team Handball. We’re proud to introduce the four coaches who will lead this year’s athletes on the court: Dawn Allinger Lewis, Wade Sutton, Stephanie Moreno and Chris Cappelmann.
The Festival is a showcase for top emerging talent, and these coaches know that pathway firsthand. Each one has represented the United States, and each has spent years helping the next generation of players find their way to the highest levels of the sport.
Dawn Allinger Lewis
Head Coach
A 1996 Olympian, Dawn spent more than a decade with the U.S. Women’s National Team, earning 111 international caps. She helped Team USA win gold at the 1995 Pan American Games, securing the team’s spot at the Atlanta Olympic Games, and represented the U.S. at two World Championships. After playing professionally in Norway and Germany, she went on to serve as an assistant and interim head coach of the Women’s National Team.
Dawn has also been a Team Handball analyst for NBC across five Olympic Games and was elected to the inaugural International Handball Federation (IHF) Athletes’ Commission. She lives in Bozeman, Montana. Dawn was the 2026 Handball Futures Festival Head Coach for the North team. Full bio →
Wade Sutton
Head Coach
Wade has led the University of North Carolina Women’s Team Handball Club since 2002, building one of the most successful programs in the country. His Carolina teams have won College National Championships in 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2025, and several of his former players have gone on to the USA National Team.
A member of the 1999 and 2002 USA National Teams, Wade also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s National Team in 2011–2012, including the 2011 Pan American Games. Wade was the 2026 Handball Futures Festival Head Coach for the South team. Full bio →
Stephanie Moreno
Head Coach
Stephanie is an IHF-certified coach and former national team athlete with more than two decades in the sport. She is head coach of New York City Team Handball and is leading the launch of the Brooklyn Community Handball Academy to expand local access to the game.
Committed to growing Team Handball at both the grassroots and elite levels, Stephanie coaches with a focus on technical excellence, empowerment and building a strong, collaborative team culture. Stephanie was the 2026 Handball Futures Festival Assistant Coach for the South team. Full bio →
Chris Cappelmann
Head Coach
Chris captained the U.S. Men’s National Team from 1989 to 1991 and has since coached both of the country’s senior national teams. He led the Men’s National Team from 1996 to 1999, including a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan American Games, and later served as head coach of the Women’s National Team at the 2011 Pan American Games.
Chris also has deep roots in the Festival’s own tradition: as head coach of the Men’s East team at the original U.S. Olympic Festival, he won gold in 1993 and 1994. Today he coaches the New York Athletic Club men’s team. Chris was the 2026 Handball Futures Festival Head Coach for the East team. Full bio →
See You at the Festival
The 2027 Handball Futures Festival takes place in June. Stay tuned for dates, venue details and athlete announcements — and follow Handball Futures on social media for the latest news.