Raleigh Goessling Joins U.S. Biathlon As Head Development Coach

Midway, UT – U.S. Biathlon announced today the appointment of Raleigh Goessling as Head Development Coach. 

“I’m excited to bring my experience into the National Team’s Development and IBU Cup programs,” said Goessling. “I’m looking forward to working with American Biathlon club leaders, our partners in Canada and the broader US cross country community to keep pushing Nordic sports forward in the grassroots and high performance spaces.”

Goessling brings extensive experience as both an athlete and coach across the biathlon and Nordic skiing systems. With a long-standing connection to U.S. Biathlon, he represented the U.S. at five Youth/Junior World Championships from 2008-2012 and later competed on the IBU Cup circuit and at Open European Championships from 2018-2022. Over the past two seasons, Goessling has served as Assistant Coach at five IBU Cup events, and the 2026 Open European Championships in Sjusjoen, NOR, where he also led the team’s pre-camp. A former Craftsbury Green Racing Project (GRP) athlete, Goessling also served as GRP Biathlon Head Coach from 2024-2026, following a season as Head Biathlon Coach at Methow Valley Biathlon. Goessling’s coaching credentials are complemented by IBU Academy Level 1 and U.S. Ski & Snowboard Level 100 certifications, as well as Wilderness First Aid certification. He holds a BA in Communication from the University of New Hampshire.

“Raleigh is an excellent fit for this role given his deep experience across both athlete development and high performance systems,” said U.S. Biathlon President & CEO Jack Gierhart. “He understands what it takes to progress through our pipeline having been a part of our organization as both an athlete and coach, and we are excited for the impact he will have on our U26 Development Team, X Team, IBU Cup Team, and the broader performance pathway.”

“Raleigh is an outstanding addition to our high performance staff,” said U.S. Biathlon High Performance Director Lowell Bailey. “His experience as both an athlete and coach gives him a unique understanding of how to guide athletes through critical stages of development. He will be instrumental in supporting our U26 Development Team, IBU Cup Team, and X Team athletes, providing the individualized coaching and performance support needed to accelerate progression to the international level. We've demonstrated that talented endurance athletes can transition into biathlon and quickly become competitive on the world stage when they are given the right resources, coaching, and opportunities. Raleigh's role will help us continue building that pathway and ensuring that athletes with exceptional skiing talent receive the personalized support necessary to reach their full potential. That investment in talent identification and development is a key part of our strategy to win the first Olympic medals in U.S. biathlon history.”

In his new role, Goessling will lead the U26 Development Team throughout the training season and assume duties as IBU Cup Head Coach during the winter. He will also play a key role in the continued growth of U.S. Biathlon’s X Team initiative, which identifies and supports talented cross-country skiers and other endurance athletes interested in pursuing biathlon at the highest levels. By combining individualized coaching, financial support, and direct access to National Team resources, the program provides athletes with a unique opportunity to accelerate their development and pursue international success. Goessling will work closely with Women’s National Team Head Coach Mike Gibson, Men’s National Team Head Coach Emil Bormetti, High Performance Director Lowell Bailey, Head Shooting Coach Matt Emmons, and Head Physiology Coach Justin Wadsworth to ensure athletes receive world-class support throughout their development journey.