The Assistant Coach of the Year Nominees
Felix Pahl
The European League of Football will celebrate its best performers of the 2025 season at the ELF Honors, taking place at PALM Beach in Stuttgart on the evening before the ELF Championship Game. On this special night, winners will be announced in thirteen different categories, honoring the outstanding contributions that shaped the league this year.
One of those awards is the Assistant Coach of the Year. This award goes to the best assistant coach of the season. The recipient has shown outstanding leadership, strategy, and support, significantly contributing to the team’s success.
Eligibility: Any assistant coach who has participated in the ongoing ELF Season is eligible to win this award.
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Here are this year’s nominees:
Johannes Brenner, Defensive Coordinator - Stuttgart Surge
Since 2023, the Stuttgart Surge defense has been one of the strongest in the league, and this season was no different. In a tough division with many close battles, the Surge crowned themselves division champions again, finishing with a 10-2 record and a secure playoff spot. Under Coach Brenner, the defense allowed only 16.1 points per game, the second-best mark in the league. They also ranked fifth in passing defense and second in rushing defense, proving once again how well-coached this unit is.
Watch the Bravos at Surge highlights here!
Brandon Noble, Defensive Coordinator - Nordic Storm
In their very first season as a franchise, Defensive Coordinator Brandon Noble quickly established his defensive philosophy with the Nordic Storm. Building a new team from the ground up is never easy, but the former NFL player used his time wisely to bring his system to life and inspire his players. The results speak for themselves: the Storm finished with the third-best scoring defense and ranked fourth in both passing and rushing yards allowed. His leadership and structure played a key role in the Storm’s successful debut season.
Nick Johansen, Offensive Coordinator - Vienna Vikings
Unlike his fellow nominees, Nick Johansen represents the offensive side of the game as the Offensive Coordinator of the Vienna Vikings. With his play-calling, the Vikings scored an impressive 38.6 points per game, finishing with the third-best scoring offense in the ELF and an 11-1 record. The Vikings’ offense ranked among the top six in both passing and rushing, showcasing their flexibility and balance. Johansen’s ability to design and adjust offensive strategies has been a huge part of the Vikings’ continued success.
Conclusion
Johannes Brenner, Brandon Noble, and Nick Johansen have all played vital roles in guiding their teams to outstanding performances this season. Whether through defensive toughness or offensive creativity, each of them has left a strong mark on the 2025 ELF season. At the ELF Honors in Stuttgart, one of them will be named Assistant Coach of the Year, but all three have already proven themselves as key architects behind their teams’ success.
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