Lübeck Seals Coach Mike Sholars Leading By Example in Germany

| Europe | 04/15/2015

Germany’s Lübeck Seals, a member of the Germany’s Regionalliga Nord, start their 2015 season in two weeks.

In addition to his responsibilities as coach of the Seals, Mike Sholars, the team’s first African-American head coach, is tackling issues off the gridiron. Sholars appeared on a talk show in Hamburg, Germany last month.

The subject of the talk show was Black History Month in Germany and it’s 19th anniversary in Hamburg, Germany.

Sholars discusses his career as the first black head coach of the Lübeck Seals, as well as being the first black head coach of any American football team in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Belgium.

The talk show panel discusses the challenges of being a successful black head coach of American Football in Europe as Sholars has had undefeated seasons in Denmark (2), Norway, Sweden, and Germany.

As a coach of young American football players, Sholars has mentored his athletes who come from African, Arab, and Asian descent on how to handle situations when they are confronted with racism.

In addition to the importance of being a positive role model for youth, Sholars’ success can serve as a good example of what people of color can now achieve.

 Afrika Outlook: Mike Sholars & Lübeck Seals

John McKeon is a former professional and collegiate American Football player and coach now living and working in New York. His goal is to spread news, information, and opinion on the global growth of the sport he loves.