Swarco Raiders announce the signing of Kevin Herron as new HC

The Swarco Raiders, Austrian and CEFL champions in 2019, have announced the signing of their own Kevin Herron as new head coach.

Following the departure of Shuan Fatah after nine years with the Raiders, this has been the most anticipated coaching announcement in Europe this offseason.

Herron, 38, an American native who moved to Germany as a teenager, has served as the defensive coordinator for Swarco under Shuan Fatah for the past two seasons. In both years, the Raiders have produced the best defense in Austria in terms of points allowed during the regular season.

He has held a variety coaching positions in Europe. He began his coaching career in 1999 with the NFA Monarchs junior squad graduating to the Königsbrunn Ants in the GFL2 where he served as head coach for two seasons, 2006 and 2007. He took over as defensive coordinator for the Munich Cowboys for the 2008 and 2009 seasons where he produced one of the top defenses in the GFL both years. He moved to the Platting Black Hawks in the GFL in 2010 as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach under John Rosenberg.

Herron first joined the Raiders in 2011 as linebackers coach helping the team win both the Austrian Bowl and Eurobowl titles. He remained with Swarco through the 2015 season, winning another Austrian championship before being named head coach and defensive coordinator for the Munich Cowboys in 2016. He returned to Swarco in 2018 again being a part of two more championships including an unbeaten season in 2019.

Sean Shelton, Raiders QB for the past five seasons:

“I think continuity is very important moving forward with this program. The Raiders have been the gold standard of amateur American Football within Europe for over a decade and have built a strong but also unique culture within the club. Kevin is fully aware of this culture and has been a large influence in facilitating greatness on the field ever since I have been a Raider.”