PARK CITY, Utah -- The U.S. Ski Team has promoted Sasha Rearick to head men's technical coach, one of a number of internal promotions going into the 2007-08 season. Alpine Director Jesse Hunt said promoting from within is a cornerstone of maintaining continuity and stability for the athletes.

Rearick moves up to men's technical (i.e., slalom/GS) head coach after serving as men's Europa Cup head coach for the past two seasons. He replaces Mike Morin, who left to become alpine director at Vermont's Stratton Mountain School. Ben Black, formerly with the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (CO), is his assistant coach.

The new Europa Cup tech (slalom/GS) head coach is Tom Sell, who advances from the men's development head coach position, and Pete Korfiatis from Mammoth Mountain in California is a Europa Cup assistant. Randy Pelkey, former Western Region head coach, is the new men's development head coach. Josh Applegate, formerly a Europa Cup waxing technician and coach, is Pelkey's assistant development coach and conditioning coordinator.

Among the women, there are changes in the Europa Cup and Development Team staffs. Kraig Sourbeer, former women's development head coach and a Ski Team alumnus, is the new Europa Cup head coach with Jeff Fergus also moving up from development to the Europa Cup staff as his assistant. Former Europa Cup Head Coach John Hale takes over the women's development squad with Jim Tschabrun, previously with the Europa Cup staff as serviceman, and Kristian Saile, moving up from the National Development System program, as his assistant coaches.

"This is a strong coaching staff with a great deal of continuity, which helps provide stability for the athletes," Hunt said. "I'm pleased we've been able to promote from within. As an example, Tom and Kraig have worked with many of their racers at the development level so there's a comfort factor there for both the athletes and the staff.

"We've also brought on some coaches who have worked with the Ski Team, so they have an understanding of what we want to accomplish," Hunt said.