For the 2025 season, John Leijten will take over as Defensive Coordinator, while Mike Mitchell assumes the role of full-time Offensive Line Coach. Both Coach Leijten and Coach Mitchell were recruited by Frankfurt‘s new head coach, Bart Andrus, a former NFL and USFL coach, who has extensive experience working both professionals.

Defensive Coordinator John Leijten

John Leijten, Frankfurt's new defensive coordinator, brings 32 years of coaching experience, including seven years in NFL Europe. Leijten began his coaching career in 2000 as Defensive Coordinator for the Cologne Crocodiles in the GFL, helping the team win the German Championship and reach the semifinals of the EFAF Euro Bowl. He then joined NFL Europe, where he worked alongside Bart Andrus for the first time.

 “I know Coach Bart from our time in NFL Europe. He hired me as the running backs coach for the Amsterdam Admirals. During that time, I learned his offensive and coaching philosophy. After two seasons on offense, I transitioned to defense and coached the linebackers for five years,” said Leijten.

Until 2007, Coach Leijten served as linebackers coach for the Amsterdam Admirals under Andrus. In 2005, the Admirals secured their first World Bowl victory, and in 2006, they reached the World Bowl final again. Leijten coached standout players like Louis Green (Denver Broncos) and Jeremy Cain (Jacksonville Jaguars), both of whom had successful NFL careers. Swedish linebacker Carl-Johan Björk, mentored by Leijten, also earned spots on NFL practice squads for the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Cincinnati Bengals between 2006 and 2008.

Leijten has also served as the head coach of the Dresden Monarchs and Australia's national team. 

"I wouldn’t say there’s one thing I’m looking forward to the most. I’m excited to be part of THE Frankfurt Galaxy—the team, the organization, the fans, and the ELF,” said Leijten. “It was another opportunity to work with Coach Andrus again. He‘s a fantastic coach and a brilliant play-caller, so I’m very excited to be reunited with him.” -Leijten.

Offensive line coach Mike Mitchell

The Galaxy's new Offensive Line Coach Mike Mitchell is bringing a tremendous amount of coaching experience at the high school, college and semi-pro level internationally. Mike had a very successful coaching career, including 22 years of coaching in College Football. He coached early in his career together with Bart Andrus at Humboldt State University from 1986 – 1990.

“We had a great working relationship and have stayed in touch since. I have been in his training camps at The Titans, Amsterdam and the Philadelphia Stars.”, says Mike.

After Bart left Humboldt in 1990, Mike stayed on to coach the team to the only back-to-back Championships in school history and broke 54 school offensive records. Mike has also experience being a coch at the junior college, high school, and even international level with the e Zagreb Patriots (Croatia) and Uppsala 86’ers (Sweden).

When Bart asked me to join him with the Galaxy it only took seconds to respond.”, says Mike, adding “He has that ability to make football fun as you go through the grind and the players will love that about him.

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