Former European Champion named Head Coach of the Polish National Team

The Polish American Football Association has signed Bradley Arbon as the new head coach and offensive coordinator of the Polish National Team – Team Poland. The US native most recently served as the offensive coordinator for Team Germany who finished first in the 2014 European Championships.

Arbon is a graduate of Boise State University where he started as a fullback and tight end for the Boise State Broncos, the university’s NCAA Division I football team. After graduating he continued his playing career in Europe with the German Football League club the Marburg Mercenaries, before becoming the team’s head coach in 2003. As a coach he led his team to the German Football League’s semi-finals four times, reaching the final game (German Bowl) in 2006. Under Arbon’s leadership the team also enjoyed great success on the international stage, winning the EFAF Cup in 2006 and reaching the European club championship game (Eurobowl) the year after.

New Polish National HC Brad Arbon

New Polish National HC Brad Arbon

During the 2008/2009 season Brad Arbon was a member of the Utah University football team’s coaching staff. That year the Utes – following an undefeated season – won the prestigious Sugar Bowl after beating football power house Alabama Crimson Tide.

Arbon’s nine plus year tenure with Team Germany began late in 2006. Success came quickly with the team winning the bronze medal at the IFAF World Championships in Japan in 2007. In the following years Arbon enjoyed his biggest coaching success with the squad helping the team to bring home two European Championships, in 2010 and 2014. Widely regarded as one of brightest football minds in Europe, Arbon is now ready to lead the Polish National Team to new heights.

“I am excited about taking on a new challenge and working with the Polish National Team. As an outsider looking in through social media and different press releases, I was impressed with what I had seen over the past couple of years and it looked like the federation in Poland was doing some impressive things. I am excited to be able to get back on the field, work with a new group of players and make some new experiences as I learn more about what football in Poland has to offer,”said the new Polish National Team Head Coach.

Jędrzej Stęszewski, the chairman of the Polish American Football Association:

“I am very happy that Brad will lead the team’s preparation in the coming years, leading up to The World Games 2017. He and his coaching staff will get to work immediately with Team Poland gathering for the training camp in Cetniewo in August, followed by three games in early Fall. His experience in working with a national team at the highest European level is invaluable for us. I truly believe that we were able to hire one of the best if not the best football expert in Europe. The coaching staff will be further strengthened with great Polish and international coaches in the coming weeks. In addition, many Polish coaches will have the opportunity to closely cooperate with the national team during training camps and player progress analysis. One of the foundations of this system is bringing long term value to the clubs, the league and the national team, thus increasing the level of American Football in our country. The new international coaches on Team Poland’s staff will also take an active role in developing the skills of all domestic coaches”.

Football fans will have the chance to see Brad Arbon and his coaching crew in action for the first time on September 12, 2015 in Gdynia, when he leads Team Poland onto the field against Belgium.  Until then fans can stay current with the Polish American Football National Team through the squad’s official website www.polska.plfa.pl and the federation’s social media outlets.

Team Poland schedule for the 2015:
August 21-26, team camp in Cetniewo
September 12, Gdynia Municipal Stadium, friendly game against Belgium
September 26, Arena Lublin, friendly game against Russia
October 11, Pardubice, European Championships elimination game against the Czech Republic
December 4-10, team camp in Szczyrk

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