U.S. Biathlon National Team Head Coach Armin Auchentaller Announces Departure

Midway, UT – After 13 years with U.S. Biathlon, National Team Head Coach Armin Auchentaller has announced his departure from the team at the conclusion of the 2025-26 World Cup season, closing one of the most impactful coaching tenures in program history.

“Armin’s impact on U.S. Biathlon cannot be overstated,” said U.S. Biathlon President & CEO Jack Gierhart. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside him and seen firsthand the standard he holds himself and our team to. He cares deeply about the athletes, about the integrity of the work, and about building something that lasts. He has shaped not only results, but the culture of this team that is grounded in excellence and built on respect, grit and a growth mindset, one that has elevated our performance and strengthened our entire organization.”

Auchentaller’s impact on U.S. Biathlon spans generations, beginning in 2009 with his role supporting what was then the strongest team in program history. While serving as the men’s coach, he was part of the staff effort that elevated athletes like Tim Burke and Lowell Bailey to historic success. Still one of the defining achievements in U.S. biathlon history, Burke, with silver and bronze medals under his belt, wore the World Cup yellow bib, marking his place as the best biathlete in the world for a stint during the 2009-10 season. This was the first time in program history that a U.S. athlete led the World Cup Total Score. 

After spending a quadrennial coaching the Swiss women’s biathlon team from 2014 to 2018, Auchentaller returned to the U.S. Biathlon women’s team. Building on his previous successes, Auchentaller’s guidance saw athletes like Susan Dunklee and Clare Egan both achieve multiple World Cup podium performances, and Dunklee also earning her second career World Championship silver medal at the 2020 World Championships in Antholz, ITA, Auchentaller’s hometown. During this era, Auchentaller helped transform the U.S. women’s team into a force on the international circuit, capable of competing for medals on any given day.

In recent years, Auchentaller transitioned to coaching both the men’s and women’s teams, overseeing the emergence of the strongest U.S. Biathlon program to date. He guided Deedra Irwin to a historic seventh place finish at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the best U.S. Olympic result in history. He has also helped develop the next wave of talent, including Luci Anderson, whose ski speed has ranked among the fastest in the world. On the men’s side, he played a central role in the rise of Campbell Wright, who captured two silver medals at the 2025 World Championships, the first U.S. athlete to double podium at a single World Championship event. Wright also became the first U.S. athlete to win the U23 globe in 2025, awarded to the best U23 athlete in the world. Beyond individual stars, Auchentaller built unprecedented depth, with the U.S. men’s, women’s, and mixed relay teams achieving consistent top results. His tenure culminated at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, held in his hometown of Antholz, where U.S. athletes delivered personal bests and historic performances. Auchentaller will lead the U.S. Biathlon Team for one final trimester of racing in Kontiolahti, FIN, Otepää, EST, and Oslo, NOR.

“Across his career with U.S. Biathlon, Armin has been a driving force in raising standards, professionalism, and belief inside our program,” said U.S. Biathlon High Performance Director Lowell Bailey. “He didn’t just coach individual athletes, he helped move the entire U.S. Biathlon program forward and established an environment where our athletes expect to compete with the best in the world. We’re incredibly grateful for everything he has given to the team and the foundation he leaves behind.”

More than medals and results, Auchentaller’s legacy lies in the professional, athlete-centered culture he helped create. He elevated expectations, refined technical standards, and built a program capable of sustained competitive excellence. His work not only shaped the successful program of today, but established a foundation that will support generations of American biathletes to come.

“Armin has always put the athlete first,” added Gierhart. “Whether guiding a World Championship medalist or supporting a developing athlete, he brought the same intensity, honesty, and commitment to helping people reach their potential. He has been a trusted partner, mentor, and friend, and he has elevated our entire organization. Because of Armin, our athletes are better prepared, our team is more unified, and our future is brighter. His contributions will continue to have a lasting, positive impact on our team, our organization, and the sport of biathlon.”

U.S. Biathlon stands in a strong position moving forward into this next quadrennial, with excellent staff and coaches in place to support athletes. Auchentaller remains committed to ensuring a smooth and thoughtful transition as the organization evaluates its coaching framework and strategic direction in alignment with the 2030 plan in collaboration with key stakeholders.

A message from Armin Auchentaller:

As I step away from my role with US Biathlon after 13 years, I do so with a full heart and deep gratitude. This has never been just a job to me, it has been a shared mission, a daily commitment, and a journey that challenged and shaped me in ways I will always carry forward.

To the athletes: thank you for your trust, your courage, and your relentless pursuit of better. Watching you push limits, overcome setbacks, and grow, not only as competitors but as people, has been one of the greatest privileges of my career.

To the staff and coaches: thank you for the honesty, the long days, the hard conversations, and the laughter along the way. Success is never built alone, and I am proud of what we stood for together.

There were difficult moments, and there were incredible ones, and it is precisely that shared experience that makes this goodbye emotional. I leave with immense respect for this program and for every individual who pours heart and soul into it.

U.S. Biathlon will always hold a special place in my life. I will continue to follow, support, and believe in this team from wherever I am.

Thank you for the memories, the trust, and the journey. 

Onward everyone, amazing awaits.