Jonn Mathews new head coach for Denmark’s Aarhus Tigers

The Aarhus Tigers who play in Denmark’s National League have signed former star receiver Jonn Mathews as their new head coach.

Mathews replaces Thomas Pedersen who is stepping away from football due to his teaching career.

Mathews, from Bay City, Michigan and a 6’3″, 235 lb receiver, spent four seasons with the Tigers after playing with the Aalborg 89ers for two years (2010-2011). His career was curtailed by injury although he returned to the field in 2019 for one game. He was a key to the Tigers’ run to the 2014 Mermaid Bowl where they lost to the Copenhagen Towers. That year he caught 36 passes for 557 yards and 11 touchdowns while leading Aarhus to its first Mermaid Bowl appearance since 2000.

He is a 2003 graduate of Essexville Garber high school, where he was a standout in football, basketball and track. He went to star-studded career with the Grand Valley State University football program, helping the Lakers to four GLIAC titles and a pair of NCAA Division II national championships. He was named among the top 25 greatest football players from Bay City area (#13) on a list that includes a number of NFL standouts.

Mathews is now a teacher at the BGI Academy in Hornsyld, Denmark and has been instrumental in starting a successful American football program at the school.