(Photo via mnfootballhub.com)

Matt Gegenheimer, the head football coach of Prior Lake High School (Savage, Minnesota), will lead the United States’ Under-18 National Team during the 2018 International Bowl Series in January.

The annual weeklong event is comprised of practices and games of multiple countries’ top high school-aged student-athletes (U-15, U-16, U-17, U-18 and U-19) in international football’s premier annual amateur competition. The 2018 International Bowl location and game schedule, as well as player rosters and complete coaching staffs, will be announced in the coming months.

USA Football, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, manages U.S. National Teams for international play.

RELATED CONTENT: Aloha, Oregon coach Bill Volk to lead U.S. U-16 National Team during 2018 International Bowl series

Prior to kickoff at Prior Lake’s home game against Eagan High School at 7 p.m. Central Time on Friday, USA Football will present Gegenheimer with a U.S. National Team helmet as its next U-18 head coach.

Gegenheimer is in his 13th season as Prior Lake head coach. In 2011, Gegenheimer guided the Lakers to their first state tournament appearance in program history. Prior Lake returned to the state playoffs in 2012 and 2014.  Before taking over at Prior Lake, Gegenheimer served as defensive coordinator for a state runner-up team at Le Center (Minnesota) High School. Gegenheimer is a USA Football regional master trainer, teaching important health and safety protocols and proper on-field technique to coaches nationwide.

“It is a great honor to lead our Under-18 National team comprised of extraordinary student-athletes,” Gegenheimer said. “The U.S. National Team program continues to elevate itself year after year, and I look forward to continuing its rich tradition and proudly representing the United States this January.”

RELATED CONTENT: USA Football announces U.S. National Team invites

“The success of the U.S. National Team program is rooted in the expertise and leadership of its coaches, and Coach Gegenheimer is a proven winner in every sense of the term who will add to the rich history of this program,” said Aaron Ingram, USA Football senior manager of national teams. “Our country’s premier football-playing student-athletes will gain a great deal from playing for Matt. He will have them ready to compete and proudly represent the United States against the best high school football talent from around the world.” 

U.S. National Team head coach alumni include Gabe Infante (Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep), Chuck Kyle (Cleveland St. Ignatius), Chris Merritt (Miami Christopher Columbus), Jason Mohns (Scottsdale [Arizona] Saguaro), Kenny Sanchez (Las Vegas Bishop Gorman), Steve Specht (Cincinnati St. Xavier), and Tom Westerberg (Barbers Hill [Texas]). 

U.S. National Team alumni include wide receiver Rodney Adams (Minnesota Vikings), wide receiver Corey Coleman (Cleveland Browns), linebacker Ben Gedeon (Minnesota Vikings), running back Todd Gurley (Los Angeles Rams), defensive back Tyrann Mathieu (Arizona Cardinals), offensive lineman Jack Mewhort (Indianapolis Colts), running back Samaje Perine (Washington Redskins), defensive end Stephon Tuitt (Pittsburgh Steelers) and quarterback Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

RELATED CONTENT: USA Football names Casey Taylor as U-17 National Team coach