Vienna Vikings hire former NCAA Division I coach Danny Mitchell as offensive coordinator

The Vienna Vikings hire former Division I coach Danny Mitchell as their new offensive coordinator, as reported by the team.

“Coach [Danny] Mitchell is a coach that instantly has an impact on a team and program. From our first talk we knew that his knowledge and energy would bring something special to the Vikings. We are all looking forward to having him in the office and on the sidelines for our inaugural season in the European League of Football”, Vikings head coach Chris Calaycay commented.

An experienced mastermind

The new Vikings coordinator coached on almost every level of football and made his impact felt wherever he was. In the past, Mitchell took on teams like the Carlstadt Crusaders as an offensive coordinator and turned their offense into a scoring-machine, averaging 55 points per game. In 2019, he also coached at Bishop’s School, California, where his offense scored 56.1 points per game. In that year alone, his starting quarterback Tyler Buchner led the entire United States of America in offensive production totaling 81 touchdowns and 6,084 yards of offense.

Buchner, a rising start at the University of Notre Dame, commented on how it felt to play for Mitchell in high school: “Coach Mitchell, ‘D-Mitch’, was one of the most caring and loving coaches I’ve ever been around. Not only was he a tremendous leader, but he cared about the success of his players and did everything he could do to put his players in situations where they could succeed.”

Coaching in the European League of Football

Now, Mitchell is taking on the Vienna Vikings’ offense in the European League of Football with talented players like former NCAA champion Diondre Overton, former Sea Devils tight end Adriá Botella Moreno, and other standouts. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Vienna Vikings. This was a “no-brainer” decision when it comes to the infrastructure, culture, history, and most importantly, the people who make up the Vienna Vikings”, offensive coordinator Danny Mitchell commented.

Twelve teams, one goal

Mitchell also has only one goal in mind: Klagenfurt! “Our goal is the same as every other European League of Football team; to end the year in Klagenfurt, Austria holding up the trophy”, Mitchell stated. He added: “We want to win as much as anyone else does, and we’re going to give it our all because of our love for the game and our respect for one another. So, whether this is your 40th year of watching this game or your first, I guarantee you’ll love the way the Vikings play football”.

American football as the world’s game

As far as the European League of Football is concerned, Mitchell is impressed by the progress the league has made and the impact the league has had on American football in Europe:

“There is no doubt that the European League of Football has quickly become one the most exciting football leagues in the world. I believe the European League of Football is making history on a global scale as American football is starting to become the world’s game. I commend those in leadership for pioneering the greatest expansion of this game to date. This league now boasts the top players on the continent and creates an opportunity for a young football fan and player in Europe to have a ‘local hero’ like an Adriá Botella or a Diondre Overton. There is no doubt the talent exists here but the underlying value and power in this league is founded on the players’ sincere love of the game. Anyone who has coached and/or played in Europe knows the game is in the purest form here[...]”.

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