Thursday, 16. July 2026 |
“People Shape Places”: An Interview with EHC Red Bull München Coach Oliver David
Anyone who watches Oliver David during games at SAP Garden sees, at first glance, a coach who usually comes across as calm—someone who rarely needs to make grand gestures and prefers to observe rather than raise his voice. It’s only upon closer inspection that our coach reveals that behind this composure lies a person who constantly puts himself under pressure.
Yet it all began far away from Munich. David grew up in Los Angeles, surrounded by surfers, skaters, hip-hop, and the California leisure culture of the 1980s and 1990s. Back then, hockey wasn’t yet a given there. Wayne Gretzky hadn’t yet joined the Los Angeles Kings when David took his first steps on the ice at age four. And unlike many young players, he didn’t dream exclusively of the NHL. He was fascinated by something else: the world outside California.
“I always had the Olympics on my mind. I wanted to see the world,” says David. Even as a teenager, he traveled to St. Petersburg with a U.S. select team. That’s where a passion was born that has stayed with him to this day: traveling and discovering new cultures.
A Career in Europe Instead of North America
Perhaps that’s exactly what explains his career path. While many North American coaches view Europe as an alternative when opportunities don’t open up at home, David sees his career differently. The move across the Atlantic wasn’t a Plan B. It was part of the plan. His plan.
After stints in Switzerland and Austria—where he won the ICE Hockey League twice with EC Red Bull Salzburg—the Californian took over as head coach of the four-time German champions in the summer of 2025. “I’m not here because I didn’t make it in North America. I’m here because Europe was where I wanted to make it.”
The fact that he lives in Munich today has long since had nothing to do with just ice hockey. Together with his family, he has found a home here. His two children speak German, having already attended school in Switzerland. After moving several times within just a few years, stability has become an important value. “My children had to change schools three times in five years. That’s not easy. That’s why Munich is a place where we want to create stability for ourselves.”
“I want to keep getting better as a coach”
Anyone who listens to David quickly realizes that he sees ice hockey less as a profession and more as a craft. He talks about it in much the same way as he does about his second great passion: surfing. Both, he says, are processes that are never truly finished. “I want to keep getting better as a coach. It’s about the pursuit of perfection.”
This attitude also shapes his work with players. Talent alone doesn’t impress him. More important are character, a willingness to learn, and the ability to be part of a team. His personal motto is: “People shape places.”
A statement that also reveals a lot about his view of team sports. For our coach, successful teams aren’t built first and foremost on systems or tactical boards, but on people who take responsibility and help shape an organization’s culture.
Perhaps that also explains why nervousness still accompanies him to this day. David openly admits that he feels anxiety before important games. Not the fear of losing, but the fear of failing to live up to expectations. “If you’re not afraid at all, it might mean that something isn’t important enough to you.”
At the end of last season, disappointment initially prevailed. The feeling that more could have been achieved was just too strong. Now, however, the focus is on the future. David doesn't see a team that's starting from scratch. Rather, he sees one that's meant to continue growing. Or as he puts it: It's not about starting over. It's about building on what we have.
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