EFA: Prague Lions name James Brooks new HC
The Prague Lions of the have announced that the team’s defensive coordinator, James Brooks, will take over as head coach for the 2026 European Football Alliance season.
Brooks served as the Lions DC in 2025 after finishing his playing career following the 2024 season. The former defensive lineman had returned to Prague in 2023. The Lions finished the 2025 ELF season as the fourth best defensive team in the league in terms of yards allowed (298.3/g) and sixth in points surrendered (20/g).
The 36 year old originally suited up for Prague in 2016 playing for the Lions for three seasons from 2016-2018 as a 6’4 270-pound edge rusher. He also was a defensive coordinator for the Prague Black Panthers in 2019.
Brooks had been dominating offensive linemen across the globe after first playing in Germany for the Cologne Falcons in 2013. Following his first international season in Germany, Brooks played in Poland for Kozly Poznan (2014, 2015) and the Czech Republic with the Prague Lions (2016-18). In 2019, he served as the defensive coordinator for the Prague Black Panthers who reached the Austrian Football League semifinals.
In 2014, Brooks signed to play in Japan for IBM Big Blue in Japan’s X-League. He was All League in seven consecutive X-League seasons. In 2020, he earned AFI 2020 All-Pandemic Team. In 2022, he made 16 tackles and had one sack for the IBM Big Blue in five games.
Prior to playing in Japan and Europe, the Flagstaff, Arizona native was a standout player for his hometown Arizona State (NCAA DI). Brooks notched 53 tackles, 9 sacks, 18 tackles for a loss, and one interception in three seasons for the Sun Devils. He was best known for blocking two point after attempts in 2010 helping Arizona State to a dramatic double overtime win against arch-rival Arizona.
