Switzerland: Bern Grizzlies sign former US Marine Bill Moore as new HC

AFI | American Football | 12/08/2023

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Bern Grizzlies of the Swiss National League have announced the signing of Bill Moore as their head coach for the 2024 season.

The Grizzlies are coming off a dismal 1-9 season after winning the Swiss title in 2022.

The 62 year old Moore brings a wealth of experience to the club having coached in multiple European Leagues as well as in the United States at the high school level and the NCAA D1 level with Bowling Green State University (1997-2000).

Moore spent the 2023 season as defensive coordinator for the Vysocina Gladiators in the Czech National League, helping the team win the Czech title with a defense that surrendered an average of 14.3 points a game. He had been the head coach and defensive coordinator for the Leipzig Lions in Germany’s third division from 2019-2022. He arrived in Leipzig following a busy 2018 which saw him serve on the coaching staff of the Asnieres Sur Seine Molosses in France and act as defensive coordinator of the Porvoo Butchers (Finland). From 2000 to 2016 (with a break from 2009-2011) he was the head coach for the Stonefield Bulldogs (Austria), Warkaus Steelers (Finland), ASVO Gladiators (Austria), Vienna Warlords, Wernigerode Mountain Tigers (Germany), Torun Angels (Poland) and Kolzy Poznan (Poland).

From 1980-1986, Moore served as a United States Marine and played on the USMC football team.

Coach Moore:

“For me coming to this team is what coaching is about. Given what happened to the Grizzlies last year with the introduction of the Helvetica Guards and the ELF in Switzerland, being selected to coach this team is a privilege. Having seen the roster and films from 2023 I understand the young talent that is on this club and the future is bright for everyone involved. The Grizzles have a very solid youth program, as well as young men’s club. Now it is about getting everyone on the same page as we get ready for the 2024 season.

“Everyone needs to understand that this is going to be a process, a process that I have been through before with a couple of other clubs that I have had in Europe. Having stated that, once everyone is headed in the same direction, good things will happen, I am very confident of that.”