For fans, head coaches are both scapegoats and beacons of hope. No leading position in a franchise is as hotly debated as the job directly responsible for scouting, contract talks, and the team's performance. The European League of Football looks at college routiniers, Championship Game winners and young minds with a hopefully glittering future in European football. Interest in making their mark on the ELF is growing and new challenges are casting their shadow.

Jim Tomsula wants to go back-to-back with Rhein Fire. © Steve Bunkahle

Progress before results

While Jordan Neuman was still unbeaten as head coach in Europe in the regular season until July 16, 2023, he had to admit defeat to former NFL head coach Jim Tomsula in the final, who even gives his franchise a certain magic. Fortunately for Neuman, the 40-year-old American is very familiar with European football and knows what adjustments he needs to make.

Young minds meet veterans

Meanwhile, the young herd of head coaches stands opposite the long-established coaches. In Hamburg, Munich, and Paris, the coaches are called Johnson, Ellison, or Mattioli and are around half the age of Madrid Bravos head coach Rip Scherer (71), who wants to usher in a new era of Spanish football as a new Madrid resident. Scherer has worked as a coach for the NFL franchises of Cleveland, Carolina, and Los Angeles, among others - that's something to be proud of. The experienced coaching veterans bring a much sought-after US touch to the best league in Europe. Jim Herrmann, former coach at the University of Michigan, won the Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2011 and will be coaching the Raiders Tirol in the upcoming ELF season. 

One of the youngest head coaches in the league: Matt Johnson takes over in Hamburg. © Henning Rohlfs

Division I-invasion in the Eastern Conference

In the Eastern Conference, Dan Disch (Prague Lions), Dave Christensen (Wroclaw Panthers), and Joe Ashfield (Fehérvár Enthroners) are set to lead their franchises as former College Division I coaches. Meanwhile, Chris Calaycay (Finals Winner 2022) and Thomas Kösling (Coach of the Year & Finals Winner 2021) are in the process of writing their very own coaching chronicles. Week after week, they are working behind the scenes on a big plan that will make the European crown in Gelsenkirchen even more attainable.