Team Handball at UGA is supported by coaches with extensive experience in U.S. and international Team Handball. Their experience gives our players the opportunity to learn the sport from coaches who have competed and coached at some of the highest levels of American handball.
James Buehning — Men's Team Coach
James Buehning brings decades of elite Team Handball experience to UGA. He represented the United States internationally for 12 years, playing 193 international games for the U.S. National Team.
Handball experience & accomplishments:
- U.S. Olympian — 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games
- 3× National Champion — 1976, 1981, 2015
- 1987 Pan American Games Gold Medalist
- Member of the U.S. team that qualified for the 1988 Olympic Games
- 1986 Goodwill Games Silver Medalist in Moscow
- 2× U.S. Olympic Committee Men's Athlete of the Year — 1981 and 1982
- MVP of the 1982 National Championships
- 1984 Southland Award recipient for Excellence in Amateur Sports
- 193 international appearances for the United States
Coach Buehning's experience at the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, National Championships, and international competition gives UGA's men's program the opportunity to learn from one of the most experienced figures in American handball.
Chris Cappelmann — Women's Team Coach
Chris Cappelmann brings extensive playing and coaching experience to UGA and leads the development of our women's program.
Handball experience & accomplishments:
- Competed in the 1985 World Championship in Norway
- Trained with the U.S. National Team for four years
- Former coach of both the U.S. Women's and Men's teams
- Regional coach with Handball Futures
Coach Cappelmann's experience working with both men's and women's Team Handball gives our women's players the opportunity to develop under a coach with experience at the national and international levels. His role is especially important as UGA continues building and expanding its women's program.