The Danube Dragons of the Austrian Football League have signed Spanish coach Daniel Docal as their defensive coordinator. Docal joins head coach Fred Armstrong’s staff as the two look to defend the AFL title in 2023.
“Daniel had a major part in helping me start the Leipzig Kings by recruiting players and playing safety. Last year he coached at Bucknell Univ(D1) and did a great job. He is ready to be a DC in the AFL this year for our Dragons”
The Spaniard brings a host of football experience to Austria’s capital as Docal has coached at the NCAA DI level as a defensive backs coach at Bucknell University last season.
The marathon continues 🏁
Excited to announce that I have joined the @Bucknell_FB coaching staff as a defensive assistant and cornerbacks coach. pic.twitter.com/KNKQS9U66A
— Daniel Docal (@danieldf211) August 12, 2022
Docal has also played in Germany, Spain, Mexico, and the United States. Most recently the 29-year-old played for the Leipzig Kings in the European League of Football. While playing primarily safety for the Kings he made 45 tackles, four tackles for a loss, one sack, and forced three fumbles. In coverage, he also added five pass break-ups and three fumble recoveries.
Docal also played in the US as a member of the Generals in The Spring League. The Generals coaching staff included Chicago Bears legend Mike Singletary and CFL coach Jeff Reinebold and Docal was competing against some of the top NFL and CFL free agents in the US.
We stay in the fight ✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/uSJ9pqNEje
— Daniel Docal (@danieldf211) July 5, 2021
The Madrid native’s career highlights include a 2017 German Bowl championship as part of a dominating Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns defense. In 2018, Docal was selected as an All-Europe player on the Europe Warriors team that competed against the University of Chihuahua in Mexico. More recently in 2019, he was a member of a secondary for the Hildesheim in Invaders of the German Football League that only allowed opponents 194 passing yards per game, helping them reach the playoffs for the first time in the club’s history. Docal has been playing for his hometown club the Osos Rivas in Spain’s LNFA Series A since 2013 between seasons in Germany.
Read more about Docal’s career here:
