ELF: Cologne Centurions announce Frank Roser as new HC

The Cologne Centurions of the European League of Football announced that 37-year-old Frank Roser will take over as the new head coach and offensive coordinator for the 2022 season.

Roser comes to Cathedral city after coach Kirk Heidelberg stepped down following the most recent season.

Centurions General Manager David Drane commented on Cologne’s new head coach:

“We are very pleased to have secured Frank as our head coach for the upcoming season. As we both were on the German National team coaching staff in the past few years I have gotten to know Frank personally and I have always been very impressed with not only his football knowledge but with the way he interacts with the players and his leadership skills. We are handing him the keys to the number 1 offense in the league, and we are sure he will bring more success to this young franchise.”

Roser has been involved with German football for many years, coaching for the Ingolstadt Dukes, Munich Rangers, Munich Cowboys, Augsburg Raptors, and Kirchdorf Wildcats. The Bavarian native brings international experience that goes as far as Asia, as Roser was the defensive coordinator for the Lixil Deers in Chofu, Japan in 2019. The German native also brings knowledge from the highest level of the sport completing several internships with the NFL. Roser spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, and NFL Europe’s Frankfurt Galaxy. The Koenigsbrunn raised coach, was also a graduate assistant for the University of Texas El-Paso (UTEP NCAA D1) Miners in 2017 and 2018.

The Centurions new play-caller is thrilled to be taking over in Cologne:

“Cologne is traditionally one of the football strongholds in Germany and NRW has many good players and coaches. And I am looking forward to working with my good friend David Drane. I worked with him in the youth national team and I’m really looking forward to doing the same in the European League of Football. I’m also looking forward to seeing familiar players like Jan Weinreich, whom I’ve already coached in the national team. And of course, to the coaching staff. I already played together with defense line coach Simon Gavanda at the Stuttgart Scorpions,“ 

For Roser, joining the fast-growing European League of football is an exciting proposal and a challenge he looks forward to taking head-on:

“The European League of Football has great potential. You can already see after the first season that it has succeeded in making the sport better known and more popular in Germany and Europe, through high-quality live broadcasts and great social media presence. The addition of new teams such as the Vienna Vikings, the Swarco Raiders and the Rhein Fire will further improve the quality of American football in Europe. I’m eager to play an important role in this league with the Cologne Centurions.”

Cologne’s general manager David Drane has been busy in the early part of the off-season re-signing the Centurions leading rusher and reigning league MVP Madre London. The Centurions have also re-signed receiver Quinton Pounds (Washington NCAA D1) and quarterback Jan Weinriech, along with finding their new head coach. Roser and Cologne will look to bring back some key pieces and make another playoff run in 2022.