Two ELF coaches join Buccaneers coaching staff
Felix Pahl
The European League of Football is making its mark in the NFL. Nadine Nurasyid of the Stuttgart Surge and Henry Schlegel of the Nordic Storm have been selected to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship for the 2025 season.
This program, created by the NFL, aims to give coaches from diverse backgrounds practical experience during training camps, minicamps, and preseason games. Its purpose is simple: to help talented coaches gain the knowledge and connections needed to move into full-time roles in professional football.
Nadine Nurasyid: Breaking barriers
Nadine Nurasyid is no stranger to making history. After starting her football career in 2013 with the Munich Cowboys Ladies, she quickly rose through the ranks, earning a place on the German National Team and competing in multiple international tournaments.
Her coaching journey began while she was still playing, and she has since held roles with the German National Team, the Munich Cowboys, and now the Stuttgart Surge, where she works as a Defensive Assistant Coach. Nurasyid was also the first woman to serve as head coach of a men’s football team in Germany, making her a true pioneer in European football.
Her selection for the Fellowship means she will spend the Buccaneers’ preseason working closely with NFL players and coaches, an invaluable opportunity to grow as a coach on the biggest stage in the sport.
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Henry Schlegel: A young coach with big ambitions
At just 25 years old, Henry Schlegel has already achieved more than most. He became the youngest Offensive Coordinator in ELF history with the Berlin Thunder before joining the Nordic Storm as their Quarterbacks Coach.
Schlegel started coaching in 2019 with the Hildesheim Young Invaders and quickly moved through various roles in Germany, while also gaining experience in the United States at Bethune Cookman University and Alabama State University.
Now, with the Nordic Storm having an incredible debut season, Schlegel adds this Fellowship to his résumé - another big step in his coaching career.
Why this Fellowship matters
The Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship is one of the NFL’s most respected programs for developing minority coaches. Every year, all 32 NFL teams welcome fellows to learn directly from their coaching staffs, giving them a rare behind-the-scenes look at how NFL teams prepare for a season.
Todd Bowles, head coach of the Buccaneers, praised this year’s fellows: “This is a valuable opportunity for these coaches to grow in their careers. I look forward to working with them as we prepare for the season.”
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A big step for European football
This achievement highlights the rapid growth of American football in Europe. Coaches like Nurasyid and Schlegel are proof that the level of coaching talent on the continent continues to rise, earning recognition on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
Their participation in the Buccaneers’ preseason is not only a personal milestone but also a sign that European coaches are increasingly becoming part of the global football conversation - with opportunities at the very top of the sport now within reach.