2025 started with appearances at the 29th IHF Men’s World Championship for Gary Hines, the United States of America back who has scored over 700 goals for his national team.

Nine months later, Hines is serving as an assistance coach for the United States of America team which is playing at the inaugural edition of the IHF Men’s Under-17 World Championship, delivering a dramatic comeback win against hosts Morocco, 22:21, in their maiden match in the competition.

“It is a fun role, but I am still playing, I am still active as a player. This is my second competition with the younger age category teams, as a coach. Last time, I was with the youth national team, we qualified for the World Championship in Egypt, this summer, but unfortunately, I was not able to go,” says Hines.

An internet sensation in the USA, which prompted his nickname, “Hangtime Hines”, due to his excellent athletic skills and his air hangtime while shooting, the 41-year-old back can be seen as a role model for the players just dipping their toes into the pool of athletes for the American team.

“Actually, my love for handball started when I was 14 through a boys and girls Club in the States. It's basically like an after-school programme where you go after school is over, they have arts and crafts, social, recreation, gym, and like technical stuff and just a place for learning and being athletic and all that stuff. So that was my first contact with handball,” says Hines.

Now, he teaches other children how to develop their skills and transform the USA handball team into a side which can provide a challenge for the powerhouses of the sport throughout the world.

“The kids, being around, they really look up to me, and they want to hear what I have to say, and they take what I have to give to them from the knowledge of the sport. And they seem to use it on the court. And, for instance, yesterday, I told two players something to do in the game, and they actually did it right after I said it,” said Hines.

From a five-goal deficit, 9:14, in the 28th minute, the USA clawed back into the match against Morocco and first hovered around a gap of two-three goals, before finally tying the score, 17:17, with 15 minutes left. Then, the American side took a two-goal lead, with three minutes left, Morocco tied the score, but eventually USA took a 22:21 win with a buzzer-beater on a fast break converted by Romeo James Buclet.

That prompted a huge celebration for the USA team, which has already become an established presence in the younger age categories, with three consecutive appearances at the IHF Men’s Junior World Championship (22nd in 2019, 27th in 2023 and 26th in 2025) and at two at the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship (28th in 2023 and 31st in 2025).

“For the development, that means our sport is getting stronger, and we're slowly trying to catch up to the European teams and the rest of the world, South America, North America, and European teams. And if our pool of kids keeps to grow, the talent keeps getting better and getting bigger, the sport can take off in the United States, just like it has in Europe,” adds Hines.

Hines himself has been a stalwart for the USA team, with over 700 goals during his career. And, provided he can play at the highest level, he aims to compete for a place in the USA team at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

“I've always said as long as I'm healthy and fit and still have love to play, um, I would like to play. But as in, if I could be competitive. So at this point, I'm still being able to keep up with the younger guys and still be competitive. And we'll see if I'm healthy in the next three years, and I'm still at a competitive level, then maybe, but we'll see,” adds Hines.

Until then, he will return to Germany, where he plays and coaches, and has become well-known via his appearances at the famous reality show Ninja Warrior in five different years, reaching the final in 2016 and 2017.

“Well, that experience has gotten me a lot of exposure throughout Germany and Europe. And especially from being a handball player, people, they recognise me even more, not just from handball, and just from the show. And that has helped me make a name, a small name for myself in Germany,” says Hines.

“I would say, yeah, that's a little more difficult than playing handball. Because that's a totally different kind of strength. My approach is always go out there and have fun. It's like a big playground. And I've been able to compete in every season so far.”