Interview with Benone “Ben” Grigore

USATT Technical/High Performance Director

By Larry Hodges & Tommy Perkins

USA Table Tennis recently hired Benone “Ben” Cristian Grigore as its first ever Technical/High Performance Director. Ben started work on Sept. 1, 2004. Ben was the Head Coach for the Koping International Table Tennis Academy and Koping’s Table Tennis Club in Sweden.  He was born in Romania, was once a top twelve player in his country and played in the Romanian Super League.  He has been involved with the sport as a player since 1972 and as a coach since 1984.

You were recently hired by USATT as their Technical/High Performance Director. How did USATT convince you to come to America?
First thing is that ever since I was a little boy I dreamed about USA, and wanted to work and live here. Second thing is that I’ve known Teodor “Doru” Gheorghe, our Executive Director, for 20 years and I work well with him. The third thing is that I like challenges and for foreign trainers, coaches and leaders in table tennis, USA is a great challenge … and it is a challenge for me!

Where and when did you work with Doru?
Twenty years ago when he was my coach and teammate in Bucharest, Romania.

What exactly does a “Technical/High Performance Director”do?
My role with USA Table Tennis will consist of many duties including: the planning and coordination of all national teams in collaboration with the Elite Athlete Committee; Develop, implement and coordinate the coaching education and certification program in collaboration with the Coaching Committee; Coordinate and oversee activities at Regional and National Training Centers; and to develop, implement and coordinate grassroots programs and activities.

Can you tell us some of your goals for USATT?
To improve the level of players and coaches, and grassroots development. My long-term goal is to help American players win a medal for USA at the Worlds or Olympics!!!

What is your background as a player?
I started to play table tennis in 1972 at I.T.A. Prahova Ploiesti, Romania. In 1984 I played as a professional player in the Romanian Super League for the Mecanica Fina Steaua Bucharest Table Tennis Club, together with Doru (he was my coach and teammate at the time). After this, in 1990, I played as a professional player in the German Division 1 for Bayer Munchen Table Tennis Club. In 1992 I played again as a professional player in the Romanian Super League, for the Stirom Bucharest Table Tennis Club. In 1994 I played as a professional player in the French Division 1 for the Moulhouse Table Tennis Club. In 1995 and 1996 I played as a guest player for Cyprus Top 12 Tournament in Nicosia. After this I moved to Sweden and I played as a professional player for Norrkoping Table Tennis Club in the Swedish Division 2. After this, I played as a professional player for the Koping Table Tennis Club in the Swedish Division 2, after in Division 1 and after that in Division Elite (Swedish Super League).

I participated in the Romanian Top 12 Tournament in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993 and 1994, as well as in the Romanian Men’s National Team B. For many years I was a practice partner for the Women’s and Men’s Romanian National Team.

What is your background as a coach and in other table tennis positions?
In 1984 I started my career as an instructor for beginners in table tennis. In 1986 I was assistant trainer at Mecanica Fina Steaua Bucharest Table Tennis Club, Romania. In 1988 I was trainer for the same club. In 1990 I was Head Coach for Bayer Munchen Table Tennis Club in Germany in Division 1. In 1992 I was trainer for Stirom Bucharest Table Tennis Club in Romania. In 1994 I was Head Coach for the Moulhouse Table Tennis Club in France in Division 1. In 1995 I was Federal Coach to Cyprus Table Tennis Association. In 1997 I was Head Coach for Norrkoping Table Tennis Club in Sweden. After this I was Head Coach to Koping Table Tennis Club and Kopings International Table Tennis Academy at the Swedish Table Tennis Center from Koping.

Other table tennis functions: I was marketing director to Kopings International Table Tennis Academy, teacher and senior consulting to Skinnskattebergs Table Tennis Folk School, consulting member to Swedish Table Tennis Association, and a member of the Swedish Psychological Sport Association.

Anything you’d like to add?
I am looking forward to working with all the coaches in USA and I want to let everybody know that if they need help or they have any questions, please, do not hesitate to contact me at USA Table Tennis:

Phone: 719-866-4583 ex.1
Fax: 719-632-6071
Email:  technical@usatt.org