Robert Eriksson Named National Resident Training Center Team Head Coach

(Colorado Springs, CO) – USA Judo is pleased to announce that Robert Eriksson has been hired to lead the National Resident Training Center Program at the US Performance Center in Charlotte, NC.

Eriksson led the Swedish National Team for more than 17 years, including the 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 Olympic Teams. With Eriksson at the helm, the Swedish Team’s results included two podium finishes at the 2021 Senior World Championships as well as a pair of top-five finishes at the 2019 Senior Worlds. Eriksson’s success in 2021 resulted in a nomination by the International Judo Federation for the best coaching achievement of the year.

A former Swedish National Team member himself, Eriksson also placed in the top-10 at the Senior World Championships and was an eight-time Swedish National Champion.

In his new role, Eriksson will work with the USA Judo high performance staff in the creation and implementation of USA Judo’s first-ever Resident Development Team at the US Performance Center in Charlotte, NC.

"I am very happy and proud that I have been given the opportunity to start work as a head coach for the USA Judo National Development Team Program at the USPC in Charlotte,” Eriksson said. “It is an exciting time that awaits USA Judo with very good conditions to develop a long-term pathway towards increased international success. The collaboration between USA Judo and the USPC in Charlotte will give the athletes the best possible conditions to conduct professional training and preparation for development. I think that with my experiences and together with the staff, coaches and athletes in USA Judo and at the USPC that we together can make great things for judo in America in the future.”

As announced earlier this year, USA Judo has partnered with the USPC to launch a resident development team that allows athletes to participate in high-level judo training with the ability for student-athletes to utilize in-state tuition at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and scholarships as well. Participants in the USA Judo Resident Development Team will have access to the latest state-of-the-art technology, including sports medicine, sports psychology, nutrition, strength and conditioning and rehabilitation support. The USPC also houses resident teams for taekwondo and field hockey and has partnered with USA Football and USA Bobsled/Skeleton to host training and tryout events as well as championship competitions at the center.

“USA Judo is thrilled to welcome Robert to our staff,” said USA Judo CEO Keith Bryant. “Not only does Robert have excellent judo coaching skills, but he also is very knowledgeable about the physiological testing and resources at the USPC that will be a key tool in improving  athlete performances. Now, not only do we have outstanding facilities and first-class sports performance resources at the USPC, we also have an incredible coach to lead the program.”

Eriksson is expected to begin his tenure with USA Judo in January 2024. Until then, he will be canvassing the United States introducing himself and attending various meetings with USA Judo Coaches to discuss and identify athletes who would benefit holistically from attending the USPC Program. For more information, or to apply for consideration to become part of the USA Judo Resident Development Team, please contact Alex Bates at alex.bates@usajudo.us.