ELF: Helvetic Mercenaries announce Val Gunn as HC
The Helvetic Mercenaries, the newest member of the European League of Football, have announced that Val Gunn will step in as the head coach of the franchise.
Formed hastily after the Helvetic Guards folded suddenly in early April, the Mercenaries are playing catchup and Gunn is the first major signing announced by the only Swiss franchise in the ELF
Most recently, Gunn was the head coach and general manager of the now defunct Istanbul Rams (2022) but stepped down just weeks into the season due to personal reasons, after which he returned to the United States.
Gunn is excited for the opportunity:
“I am extremely grateful to lead the Mercenaries on the field in 2024. Despite the obstacles , there is an incredible opportunity to improve from last season. I welcome the challenges and know that everyone in the franchise is committed to success. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Gunn had guided the Wroclaw Panthers to the Polish title in 2019, their first title in Poland in two years at the time.
The 57-year-old Gunn, who calls Savannah, Georgia home, is a former Texas A&M quarterback and best selling author (In the Shadow of Swords) and coached extensively in Europe prior to his championship season in Poland. He had two stints coaching Norway’s Oslo Vikings (1997-98, 2006-2008) and in 2007 they defeated German semifinalists that year, the Berlin Adler, in EFAF Cup play. He also coached the Norwegian national team, France’s Aix-en-Provence Argonautes, the Paderborn Dolphins from Germany, when they played in the German Football League as well as Poland’s Wroclaw Devils.
About ELF
The ELF will open its fourth season on May 25 and will remain a 17 team league which includes the new Swiss franchise, the Helvetic Mercenaries, as well as the Frankfurt Galaxy, Hamburg Sea Devils, Berlin Thunder, Cologne Centurions and Stuttgart Surge from Germany, the Wroclaw Panthers (Poland) and the Barcelona Dragons from Spain, the seven founding members of the league who are entering their fourth season. The defending champions, the Rhein Fire (Germany), along with the Vienna Vikings and the Raiders Tirol from Austria are entering their third season, while France’s Paris Musketeers along with the Fehérvár Enthroners (Hungary), Prague Lions (Czech Republic), Milano Seamen (Italy) and the Munich Ravens (Germany) will be playing their second ELF season . They will be joined this year by the new Madrid Bravos from Spain.
