The Prague Lions, the European League of Football’s (ELF) newest member, have announced Zach Harrod as their head coach for the 2023 season.
The Lions first official signing of the year is hardly a surprising one as Harrod has been with the team in some capacity since 2004. Initially joining the team 18 years ago as a player, Harrod has since worked his way into the head coaching role and will now lead the Lions into the ELF.
Of his official appointment to head coach, Harrod had this say:
“I’m excited to lead the Prague Lions into this next exciting chapter. I’ve always wanted and looked for an opportunity that would make sense for us and this does. It’s an exciting time for football in the Czech Republic and I’m working hard to make sure as many guys are part of it as possible.
“I believe in this sport. It can change lives. I’ve witnessed how this sport has changed lives in Prague. I’ve always dreamed of a way of capturing this country’s imagination and making even a deeper impact. This opportunity with ELF is exactly what I’ve waited for nearly two decades!”
During his tenure in Prague Harrod, native of rural Wisconsin has appeared in numerous Czech Bowls as both a player and coach and has overseen the junior team’s domestic dominance winning nine out of the last 18 National Championships.
As a part-owner of the Lions, Harrod will be heavily invested in the team’s immediate success both on and off-field. An immediate challenge may be securing domestic talent as much of Czech Republic’s football community remains divided.
But with the team being located in one of the most iconic cities in Europe in addition to being dead-center in the middle of the continent, success both commercially and on the scoreboard should not be fleeting.
Just to be clear, we have Head Coach for our first season in the @ELF_Official! pic.twitter.com/BoulDYrOHG
— Prague Lions (@praguelions) October 26, 2022