Championship-winning coach Marc Dellenbach joins Excellence Centre

Experienced international coach Marc Dellenbach has officially left his role with the German national team to take up the position of head coach at the World Archery Excellence Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland.

He was most recently responsible for Germany’s youth programme – and took the senior recurve women’s team to an historic world title last month.

“I can say it was a dream to one day work with World Archery,” said the 48-year-old Dellenbach. “After my experience in Germany, and seeing the opportunity here at the World Archery Excellence Centre, I think it’s a good time for me to begin sharing my experience with everybody, rather than just one country.”

“The goal with this Centre is to be the reference for the World Archery community,” he added. “To welcome the best teams, produce content and share knowledge.”

Dellenbach was the head coach of the French national team for four Olympics from Athens 2004 to Rio 2016. France collected two medals at the Games during that period, a recurve women’s team bronze in 2008 and Jean-Charles Valladont’s individual silver in 2016.

His subsequent arrival in Germany coincided with a period of unprecedented success.

Despite the retirement of long-time international stalwarts like Elena Richter and Lisa Unruh from the recurve women’s team, replacements from the youth programme have not just adequately filled the gaps, but made Germany one of the best squads in the world.

In his new role at the World Archery Excellence Centre, Dellenbach will be responsible for setting the coaching programme at all levels, from activations to elite training camps, as well as the professional development of the training staff.

He will also work on World Archery’s education and development programmes.

“Marc will bring the Centre to a higher level. He is by far the most qualified coach we have hired,” said World Archery secretary general Tom Dielen, who is also responsible for the foundation that operates the facility.

“Knowing that we are based in Switzerland, which is not the cheapest place in the world, we have to really excel in the services that we can offer to people coming to the Centre and there Marc will play a vital role.”

The World Archery Excellence Centre was opened in 2016 as an international development hub for the sport.

Situated in the north of the Olympic Capital of Lausanne in Switzerland, it is a purpose-built training and competition facility with large indoor and outdoor ranges, analysis and tuning facilities, a well-equipped gym, as well as conference and meeting rooms.

It hosts regular visits from national teams and private groups and, for the first time, will host the Lausanne Challenge, an open entry event on the Indoor Archery World Series.

More information is available on the World Archery Excellence Centre website.