Munich Ravens hire Vince Okruch as Defensive Coordinator

| American Football | 01/29/2023

The Munich Ravens have announced that they have hired Vince Okruch as their defensive coordinator ahead of their inaugural season in the European League of Football.

At 67 years old, the native of Buffalo, New York, has a lot of experience coaching football at a high level.  Okruch has spent 35 years coaching at the collegiate level in the United States, including multiple stints at big name programs.  He played football collegiately for Culver-Stockton College in Missouri as a quarterback and tight end.  Within a few years of graduating, he became the head football coach there.  Afterwards, he made the leap to the Division I FBS level.  Starting out at the University of Minnesota, he would later spend time at Northwestern, Colorado, Louisiana-Monroe, Illinois, and Akron.  After a few years off, he joined the Ohio State Buckeyes as a kicking game coach, before later moving on to Rutgers University as a special teams coordinator. 

In joining a completely new franchise, Okruch aims to provide leadership to a group of defensive players who perhaps lack the experience and team chemistry that other ELF teams possess.  Standout players on the defensive side of the ball will include veteran American cornerback Darius Saint-Robinson and former Vienna Viking Dominic Siegel.

Okruch said this of the move:

“I am intrigued by the opportunity to coach in the top European football league.  After talking with John Shoop about his football philosophy, it was clear to me that I definitely wanted to be there.  This impression was reinforced by my conversations with General Manager Sebastian Stolz and Director Sports Operations Sean Shelton.  I’m really looking forward to being part of the Munich Ravens in the inaugural 2023 season.”

Shoop, the man who has been tasked with leading the Ravens in their first year of existence:

“Coach Okruch has coordinated several prestigious college programs in his 30+ years of coaching.  His experience will help us design a plan on the capabilities of our defense.  His focus on the fundamentals of the game and reputation as a wonderful teacher will serve the Ravens well.”

A current student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carter played football in high school and has been a lifelong avid football fan.