Pierre Gillo will be the new national athletics coach

The new national athletics coach will begin his engagement with the German Hockey Association on September 1st, 2026. Gillo, a native of Mönchengladbach, emphasizes: "The step to the German Hockey Association means a lot to me, both in terms of sport and personally. I am particularly excited by the combination of high professionalism in the association and the The opportunity to specifically contribute my diverse experiences. At the same time, returning to my hometown of Mönchengladbach is an additional motivation for me.”

Gillo is currently working as Head of Performance at the Danish football club Aalborg BK and has gained experience from his past positions in various sports at the top professional level, such as with the Kölner Haien or Hamburger SV, and is therefore positioned to play a variety of sports. The 39-year-old Gillo (born: Pierre Houben) has a family background in hockey; both his father and his uncle actively play hockey and so Gillo also got an insight into the sport of hockey at an early age.

Gillo is taking over the position of national athletics coach from Janosch Emonts, who has held this position since 2021: "I have already received many exciting insights into the projects at the German Hockey Association through Janosch Emonts, which immediately excited me. The clear structure, the high standards and the ambitious personalities in the association make the task particularly attractive for me. I am looking forward to contributing my experiences from different sports contexts and taking the next steps together design.”