White to lead women’s speed team as U.S. coaches shuffle

The U.S. Ski Team announced today (April 28) that longtime assistant coach Chip White has been named women’s speed head coach. White replaces Alex Hoedlmoser, who became the women’s alpine head coach earlier this month when Jim Tracy stepped down.

White will be charged with leading talents like Olympic medalists Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso as well as developing younger racers in the downhill and super G events.

“I’m fortunate to take over an incredibly successful program, but we still have a lot of work to do,” said White. “My goal is to create a positive team environment that provides a spark of newness and excitement for all the athletes. We have two incredible talents with Lindsey and Julia, but everyone in this program has the ability to reach that level.”

In addition to Vonn and Mancuso, White will continue to coach Olympians Stacey Cook, Alice McKennis, Leanne Smith and Chelsea Marshall all of whom have posted World Cup top 10 results.

“I’ve been a part of these athletes’ careers since they entered the U.S. Ski Team program. Each has the potential for a higher level of success,” said White. “What we need to do is create a plan for each of them that makes athletic sense and allows them to achieve both their individual and team goals.”

White, a Mammoth Lakes, Cali. resident, officially joined the USST in 1996 as a women’s speed assistant coach after traveling a few months a year as a guest coach with the men’s speed program starting in 1990.

“Chip is one of the most experienced alpine coaches in the country and is absolutely the right man to lead the women’s speed program,” said Hoedlmoser. “I’ve worked with him for a long time and am completely confident that he can continue to move this team in a positive direction.”

Joining White on the women’s speed staff is Jeff Fergus, who moves into the assistant role form the women’s technical staff, and Chris Knight, who has worked with both the women’s technical and speed programs. Hoedlmoser will also announce an additional coach in the fall.

Trevor Wagner will continue to head the women’s technical program, and has added former U.S. Ski Team coach Roger Bay from Montana’s Bridger Ski Foundation and another coach also to be named in the fall. Seth McCadam jumps from the women’s technical program into the head coaching role of the women’s Development Team.

“From Chip and Trevor on down to Seth in the development program, we’ve put together an incredibly talented staff with the energy and ideas to bring this team to the next level,” said Hoedlmoser. “I’m excited about the direction we’re moving in and the future of this team.”

Image of White by Mike Schirf.