Johannes Zöchling is the new Austrian women's head coach.

Johannes Zöchling is the new women's head coach. The Lower Austrian will take over the position of women's head coach in the Austrian Ski Federation on May 1, 2026, succeeding Roland Assinger.

The 46-year-old from Lower Austria worked for the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) for over 14 years in various roles, most recently as the highly successful coach of the Norwegian women's technical team, including Olympic silver medalist Thea Louise Stjernesund. "With Johannes Zöchling, we have gained a coach who has proven over many years that he can successfully develop athletes. I am convinced that his calm demeanor will allow him to connect very well with the athletes," said ÖSV Sports Director Mario Stecher.

About the person: Johannes Zöchling

• 2010–2016: Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) conditioning coach, women's technical team

• 2016–2022: Group coach, women's technical team (Austrian Ski Federation)

• 2022–2024: Group coach for junior men (Austrian Ski Federation)

• 2024–March 2026: Coach, Women's Technical Team (Norway)

• From May 1, 2026: Head coach of the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) women's team

"It is a responsible position that I am very happy to accept. I intend to approach it in my usual manner – calmly, purposefully, and with great dedication" said  Johannes Zöchling,

Alpine Skiing Director Christian Mitter is delighted with the signing of Zöchling: “Johannes brings professional expertise and international experience. He knows the structures within the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) and has also gained valuable new insights. We are convinced that he and his coaching team will take the right steps to consistently lead our women to the top of the world rankings in all disciplines.”

Johannes Zöchling himself is highly motivated about his new role: “It is a responsible position that I am very happy to accept. I want to approach it in my usual way – calmly, purposefully and with great commitment. In addition, this role offers the opportunity to provide important impetus to Austrian skiing.”

In the initial phase, the focus will clearly be on analysis and exchange with the athletes and the entire coaching team: "The expectations in Austria are high – we want to regularly compete for podium finishes. To achieve this, we need to create the right conditions and at the same time strengthen the athletes' personal responsibility."

Johannes Zöchling will be present for the first time in his new role as women's head coach at the Austrian Championships on the Reiteralm, where he will begin his work and hold initial talks.

Interview with new women's head coach Johannes Zöchling

Johannes Zöchling is taking on the role of head coach for the women's team at the Austrian Ski Federation with great enthusiasm. In this interview, the 46-year-old discusses his approach, his first steps, and his goals.

Johannes, how excited are you about your new role as women's head coach? I

"I'm absolutely thrilled. At the same time, the job is challenging, but that's precisely what makes it so appealing. It's a responsible position that I'm very happy to accept. I intend to approach it in my usual way – calmly, purposefully, and with great dedication. Furthermore, this role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on skiing in Austria.

How do you view the upcoming tasks?

"I'm very optimistic about the upcoming tasks, even though the scope is very broad. From a sporting perspective, I'm convinced that there's potential for podium finishes in every discipline. The crucial factor will be preparing the athletes so that they can consistently deliver their best performances.

Where do you want to focus your efforts, and what are your first steps in your role?

"The potential is definitely there. The focus is on bringing more consistency. The key levers lie in the daily work, in clear processes, and in close coordination within the team. Together, we want to identify where we can make targeted improvements. The first steps are clear: seeking dialogue. I want to talk to the coaches and the athletes to get a comprehensive picture. Based on this, we can implement targeted measures to enable consistent performance.

Johannes, what goals have you set together with the coaching team?

"Our goal is to prepare the athletes in the best possible way and enable consistent performances. Expectations in Austria are high – we want to regularly compete for podium finishes. To achieve this, we need to create the right conditions while simultaneously strengthening the athletes' sense of personal responsibility.

Are there any changes you'd like to make?

"It's too early to talk about specific changes. My first priority is to get a comprehensive overview. I'm convinced that the existing team possesses a great deal of quality. Any changes, if they occur at all, will be implemented in small, targeted steps. Trust and accountability will play a central role in this process."

Thank you for the conversation!