Photo: DTTB

The „lost son“ returns home to Germany. For almost five years the former DTTB national team coach for the women’s and later for the men’s team has worked in Wien-Schwechat. As WSA Head Coach – together with Düsseldorf’s former Head Coach Dirk Wagner and coach legend Mario Amizic – he built up the world training centre “Werner Schlager Academy” (WSA).

In August 2015 Richard Prause returns home to Germany where he follows Dirk Schimmelpfennig (who takes a position at the German Olympic Sports Confederation) as sports director at the German Table Tennis Federation (DTTB).

DTTB President Michael Geiger rejoices at his new employee: “We are happy to win our ideal candidate for the sports director’s position. Richard’s work as national team coach was outstanding and in Austria he could establish his reputation as coach and far-sighted manager intensifying his international contacts.”

Richard Prause: “I am very grateful to the WSA for five interesting, conjoint years where we could push this international training centre forward. Now I look forward to great, new challenges. The DTTB is – besides China – the worldwide leading nation in table tennis and I will do everything together with our team to develop the table tennis sports in Germany further.”

WSA Chief Executive Officer accepted Richard Prause’s decision with a heavy heart: “Richard Prause had a large share in bringing up the WSA as a worldwide recognized training centre for players from the whole world. Everybody at the WSA appreciated his qualities as coach and person. Of course we respect Richard’s decision to return home to the DTT and wish him and our friends of the DTTB the best for the future.”