Sebastian Jones is the new national coach of the German U18 women's national team. The former ice hockey professional will take over the position with immediate effect.
As a player, Sebastian Jones completed several positions in the highest German ice hockey league (DEL), including with the Kassel Huskies and the Iserlohn Roosters under contract. After ending his active career, Jones embarked on a career as a coach - the 41-year-old now has an A license. The Iserlohn native focused from the very beginning mainly on the training and further education of young ice hockey talents. Jones coached the U17 men of the Iserlohner EC and, until recently, the U17 team of the ETC Crimmitschau.
Also the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund (DEB) has become aware of Sebastian Jones' expertise as a young talent coach and has already employed him several times as an assistant coach for the U16 and U18 women. Among other things, he coached the U18 young talent team, together with women's national coach Jeff MacLeod, at this year's World Championship in Zug, Switzerland. Jones has already gained extensive knowledge of the association's internal structures and processes, which will benefit him as he takes on the new position.
Sebastian Jones will make his first official appearance as U18 women's national coach in July 2024 at a course in Füssen, which will also mark the start of the new 2024/25 season.
We would like to thank Franziska Busch, who has coached the U18 women's national team over the past few years. With enormous passion and commitment, she has made a major contribution to the positive development of German women's ice hockey. We wish Franziska all the best for her future.
DEB-Sports director Christian Künast: "We are delighted that we have been able to recruit Sebastian Jones for the position of U18 women's national coach. With his broad experience as a young talent coach, he will professionally accompany our U18 women's national team on its journey and continuously develop it. In addition, Sebastian's previous assignments at DEB where he was able to get to know his future working environment and the values and philosophy of the association."
U18 women’s national coach Sebastian Jones: “I am really looking forward to my new task. From the very beginning, I found it remarkable how much passion and enthusiasm the women’s young talent teams of the DEB pursue their sport. And now being part of the U18 women's team and helping the team develop is of course an honor for me. I have already been able to accompany the team a few times, including at this year's World Cup, so it is a great pleasure for me to now be able to take over the team as the responsible national coach."