“Clipboards on Wheels”: The U.S. Coaching Exodus from European Football
If you thought the referees switching camps was spicy, the coaching lineup just turned up the heat. Across Europe’s American football scene, some of the biggest U.S. names on the sideline are packing up — leaving massive gaps in experience, swagger, and institutional memory. Let’s break it down: who’s gone, what’s been left behind, and how big is the hole they just dug.
Who’s Walking Out (and What They Brought)
These are not random assistants — these are names with NFL gear and college résumés. They came to Europe to build, to win, to teach. Now they’re mostly gone.
Bart Andrus (Frankfurt Galaxy)
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Long resume: NFL assistant (Tennessee Oilers/Titans, 1997-1999)
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In NFL Europe: Offensive Coordinator for Rhein Fire, then Head Coach of Amsterdam Admirals (2001-2007) — won World Bowl XIII in 2005, and was named NFL Europe Coach of the Year
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Also coached in CFL, UFL, XFL, USFL, college/university levels etc
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New head coach in Europe for 2025 (Frankfurt Galaxy) but now part of the exodus
That’s decades of institutional and cross-league coaching layered into one man. Losing him is like burning the archives.
Andrew Weidinger (Madrid Bravos / formerly Rhein Fire / Barcelona Dragons etc.)
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College start: University of Arizona (2000–2006), student & graduate assistant roles.
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NFL: Assistant roles with the Atlanta Falcons, then Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Other U.S. stop: Arizona Hotshots (AAF) as RB coach.
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European rise:
• Potsdam Royals (GFL) Offensive Coordinator (2021)
• Barcelona Dragons Head Coach (2022) — guided them to improved record; playoff berth, Coach of Year awards.
• Rhein Fire Offensive Coordinator (2023–2024), winning back-to-back ELF championships.
• Madrid Bravos Head Coach (2025) — offense in 2025 led league; now stepping down.
He’s been a bridge between leagues, systems, and continents.
Jim Tomsula (Rhein Fire)
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Long NFL & domestic history: spent many years as defensive line coach in NFL, interim head coach, and full head coaching stints.
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In Europe / NFL Europe: had earlier stints (Berlin Thunder DC, London Monarchs, Scottish Claymores) before moving to lead Rhein Fire in ELF.
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Success in Europe:
• Led Rhein Fire to back-to-back ELF championships (2023, 2024)
• Perfect season in 2023, Coach of the Year accolades.
When Tomsula leaves, you don’t just lose a coach — you lose a cultural anchor.
Craig Kuligowski (Panthers Wrocław)
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College coaching pedigree: longtime defensive line coach in U.S. college programs (Missouri, Miami, Alabama, Toledo) before jumping to head coach role in ELF.
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His European stint: 2025 season as Head Coach of Panthers Wrocław.
Kuligowski’s impact was emerging — but he brought serious technique, culture, and line mastery.
Jim Herrmann (Raiders Tirol)
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NFL pedigree: Herrmann was known for his long assistant/defensive roles in the NFL, including being linebackers coach on a Super Bowl–winning Giants team. (mentioned in ELF coach lists)
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European tenure: Two full seasons coaching Raiders Tirol (2024 & 2025) before stepping down.
He carried elite-level defensive acumen into European fields; that’s not easy to replace.
Who Succeeded, Who Plateaued, Who Under-delivered?
Let’s rank their European tenures in impact (with a grain of subjectivity):
| Name | Peak Success in Europe | Notes / Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Tomsula | Back-to-back ELF titles, perfect season, Coach of Year honors. | Some seasons prior weren’t spectacular; also carries baggage from NFL head coaching stints. |
| Andrew Weidinger | Built elite offenses, won championships with Rhein Fire, top performance with Bravos offense | His final Bravos playoff run was short-lived; stepping down signals fatigue or misalignment. |
| Bart Andrus | Strong legacy from NFL Europe, world bowl champ, deep institutional knowledge | His recent European tenure was more promise than proof; 2025 results were middling. |
| Jim Herrmann | Solid defensive performance, established culture in Tirol | No championship run; arguably too short to prove transformative. |
| Craig Kuligowski | Brought serious line coaching techniques, had potential to grow | One season on the job — premature departure. |
So: Tomsula stands out as the home-run hire, Weidinger as a high-ceiling playmaker, Andrus as the veteran stalwart, Herrmann as steady, and Kuligowski as raw upside.
What This Means Moving Forward (for Europe, EFA, and the Ground Game)
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Knowledge vacuum: Game planning, recruiting, systems continuity — all at risk. New coaches will come, but many will be green to the European landscape.
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Culture shock: Losing leaders who lift locker rooms, mentor assistants, and operate across NFL / college / European systems means fracture risk in team cohesion.
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Competitive reset: New leagues (like the EFA) or evolving ones will have to pitch not just money but vision and infrastructure to lure credible talent.
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Opportunity for new names: This might be the golden window for rising coaches — European or U.S. — to stake leadership roles and build legacies.
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Transition pains: Expect hiccups — miscommunications, broken systems, clashing philosophies, and uneven early seasons.
Final Word
The U.S. coaching exodus from Europe is more than a few resignations — it’s a tectonic shift. We’re talking decades of experience, system expertise, and institutional trust walking away.
The fields, the playbooks, the locker rooms — they’re about to be reassembled, sometimes by less-seasoned hands. And in that gap lies both danger and opportunity.
