For the Junior (16-19 years) Team, appointments include Scott Rowe (Defense), Graham Kelly (Offense) and Kenny McPhail (Special Teams). For the Adult (18+ years) Team, appointments include Wayne Hill (Defense), Andy Mackintosh (Offense) and Chris Hartley (Special Teams).
Junior Defensive Coordinator, coach Scott Rowe, is a superb appointment to the Lions’ coaching staff. He currently is Defensive Coordinator of the London Olympians, who reached the semi-finals of National Leagues’ Division 1 in 2011. He was a member of both Junior and Adult coaching staffs in the recent years, serving in Special Teams and Defensive Back coaching roles. He has also held coaching roles with the Kent Exiles (Head Coach), the London Warriors and the Greenwich Mariners. Coach Rowe is also a former Great Britain Lions player. He was a standout safety, over an illustrious 18 year playing career. He represented Great Britain nine times at Adult level, was a national team Junior player (for the G.B. Crusaders), and won the EFAF Cup and seven National Championships with the London Olympians during their “Decade of Dominance”. Coach Rowe also played as an import player in Germany and Spain, following time as a student-athlete in Louisiana at Nicholls State University.
Adult Defensive Coordinator, coach Wayne Hill, is an another outstanding appointment to the Lions’ coaching staff. He is currently Head Coach of the University of Birmingham Lions, and has been instrumental in building a programme there that has achieved dominance in the University League. His involvement stretches back to 1998, becoming National Champions in 2005, and recent back-to-back National Championships bore his footprints on the team. He has also twice been awarded British American Football Coaches Association (BAFCA) Coach of the Year. Coach Hill is also on the IFAF “World Development” Team coaching staff, responsible for Linebackers. This team is taking on a USA select team in Texas in February 2012. He also has experience coaching at the Great Britain Bulldogs (the former National Student Team), Birmingham Bulls, Tamworth Phoenix and Redditch Arrows. Coach Hill is also a former player, a standout Linebacker with the Birmingham Bulls.
Junior Offensive Coordinator, coach Graham Kelly, is another excellent addition to the Lions’ Coaching Staff. He is currently Head Coach of the Tamworth Phoenix, and his own develop mirrors the meteoric rise the Phoenix has had since their formation. Coach Kelly previously worked with Quarterbacks on the Great Britain Junior Team in 2010, and his coordinator experience stems from work in Tamworth and with the Loughborough Aces. He has also coached with the Newcastle Raiders, so has experience of a diversity of Offenses. As a player, coach Kelly has played in all Offensive positions, including Quarterbacking Tamworth to the Division Two Final in 2008.
Adult Offensive Coordinator, Andy Mackintosh, is yet another superb appointment to the Lions’ staff. He is currently Head Coach at the East Kilbride Pirates, who won the National Leagues’ Division One Championship in 2011. In this role, he has guided the Pirates to three finals since 2007. He previously coached Linebackers for the Great Britain Junior Team in 2009-10, but now turns his focus to the offensive side of the ball. He has also coached Junior football with the North Lanarkshire Rams, and was a coach for the Team Scotland Junior Teams from 2000-2006. As a player, coach Mackintosh was also a standout Linebacker. In addition to nine successful years for the Pirates, he also played in Italy. However, as a Junior Player he represented and captained Great Britain, and was selected to play for the European All-Star Team in the Global Junior Championships before SuperBowl XXXV in January 2001.
Junior Special Teams Coordinator, coach Kenny McPhail, is another coach that brings excellence to the Lions’ coaching staff. He currently coaches Special Teams and Defensive Backs at the Manchester Titans, Central Division Champions in the National Leagues Division 2 in 2010. He also acts as a consultant to the Manchester University Tyrants. Coach McPhail’s brief injury-interrupted playing career saw him achieving the University League Most Valuable Player Award in 2005, as a dominant running back and safety with the Glasgow University Tigers. He also played for the East Kilbride Pirates.
Adult Special Teams Coordinator, coach Chris Hartley, rounds out the excellent appointments. He is currently Head Coach of the Reading University Knights, and has been key in building a strong programme that achieved play-off qualification in 2009-10. Coach Hartley has also coordinated Special Teams for the Coventry Jets, assisting them in their 2008 BritBowl National Championship campaign, and during European competition. He has also coached at Berkshire Renegades, and the Warwick Wolves.
The Cordinators met with the Head Coaches (Damian Anderson and Mike Callan), General Manager (Nick Wasmuth) and BAFA National Programme Committee (Russ Hewitt and Jon Wyse) this past weekend at Filton College’s WISE campus to discuss how to “Build the Programme; Continue the Tradition; and Restore the ROAR”.
This was an opportunity to ensure that the re-formed BAFA National Programme has a coherency and coordination from the very outset. The meeting involved the sharing of aims and objectives, as well as a chance for refinements to the playbooks created by Head Coaches Anderson and Callan. This was a very productive meeting and significant steps were made.
The next steps involve the interview and appointment of positional coaches for the National Programme. This is a process that is underway over the next week. Details regarding appointments will be posted when all positions have been confirmed.
Coming very soon will be details regarding Open Trials in the new year ... Venues are being confirmed this week, but prospective Junior (under 19) Team players should mark the dates 28th January and 4th February 2012 in their diaries. Prospective Adult (over 18) Team players should mark the dates 14th January and 4th February 2012 in theirs.
Photo used for story:
BAFA National Programme Staff meet to Build the Programme, Continue the Tradition and restore the Roar.
(left to right):
Scott Rowe (Junior Defense), Graham Kelly (Junior Offense), Damian Anderson (Junior Head Coach), Nick Wasmuth (General Manager), Mike Callan (Adult Head Coach), Chris Hartley (Adult Special Teams), Kenny McPhail (Junior Special Teams), Wayne Hill (Adult Defense).
Not pictured – Andy Mackintosh (Adult Offense).