Raiders Tirol: Change of coach brings a breath of fresh air to the American football team

Raiders Tirol: Change of coach brings a breath of fresh air to the American football team

In a significant realignment of the coaching staff, the Raiders Tirol have announced the end of the collaboration with two key members. Nick Kleinhansl and Simon Riedl will no longer be part of the team's coaches in the European League of Football (ELF), but will take on new roles within the club.

The Raiders Tirol, based in Innsbruck, have already developed a clear strategy to strengthen the team in the coming season. While Kleinhansl and Riedl are seeing departures, their contribution to the club remains crucial.

The new paths of Kleinhansl and Riedl

Nick Kleinhansl, who previously started his career with the Telfs Patriots and worked as running backs and tight ends coach for the Austrian national team in 2020, will take on a different role within the organization in the future. “As an expert on the Austrian football scene and thanks to his experience in management, Nick is an important support for the Raiders,” explained Ulz Däuber, general manager of football, and praised Kleinhansl’s commitment to date.

“I would like to thank Nick and Simon for their commitment to the Raiders so far!”

Simon Riedl brings a long history with the club, having joined the Swarco Raiders Tirol as a player in 2010. His accomplishments as a player, including four Austrian Bowl wins, were complemented by his coaching work, overseeing linebackers during the 2023 and 2024 ELF seasons. “Simon will always remain a part of the Raiders,” said Däuber, who also emphasized that Riedl can no longer actively work as a coach in the ELF for professional reasons.

“However, Coach Riedl will continue to support the Raiders and I am very happy about that.”

The signing of Jim Ward

Another significant step towards optimizing the coaching staff is the hiring of Jim Ward, former head coach of the Milano Seamen, as the new linebackers coach. Ward, originally from Texas, has had an impressive coaching career in Europe, both as head coach and in other key positions. Particularly noteworthy is his success in Finland and the Czech Republic, where he won major championships.

"I'm really looking forward to joining the RAIDERS Tirol. They have always been a strong organization and one of the best clubs in all of Europe," said Ward, who would like to take advantage of the opportunity to reach the next level of his coaching career with the Raiders Tirol.

Jim Ward's numerous successes in the European football scene could help the Raiders Tirol team to improve even further next season. Ulz Däuber is confident: “Coach Ward has enormous experience that he can bring to our staff.”

The Raiders Tirol are known for their ambitious goals and have viewed the changes in the coaching staff as important steps to improve their competitiveness in American football. For further details on these developments, the official Raiders Tirol website is available, where fans and interested parties are continuously informed.

Stay tuned for more Raiders Tirol news with interesting updates on contract extensions and team strategies in the near future.