U.S. Eventing Team Coach Phillips to Retire in 2012

The U.S. eventing team coach, Captain Mark Phillips, will retire in 2012 after the London Olympic Games. A search committee will be formed to name his successor.

January 8, 2010 — At the end of 2012 the U.S. eventing program will undergo a significant change. After 20 years, Captain Mark Phillips has announced his retirement as chef d’equipe and technical advisor following the London Olympic Games to “give someone else the opportunity to put their stamp on the program,” he said.

To date, Phillips has led the eventing team to 23 team and Individual medals during his time at the helm of the program. Highlights include team silver and individual bronze at the 1996 Olympic Games, team bronze and individual gold at the 2000 Olympic Games, team bronze and individual silver at the 2004 Olympic Games and individual silver at the 2008 Olympic Games. His teams also won team gold at the Pan American Games in 1999, 2003 and 2007 and team gold at the 2002 World Equestrian Games.

In order to create a timely and seamless transition for the program, the process for identifying Phillips’ successor has begun. The U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) will announce the members of the search committee in the near future. The search committee will include athletes, committee members and experts in equestrian sport.

The search committee’s initial responsibility will be to develop a job description and timeline to integrate the new person into the eventing program to insure that the athletes’ access to world class coaching is not interrupted.

The USEF anticipates posting the position in 2010.

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