ELF: Istanbul Rams announce Val Gunn as HC

Turkey’s Istanbul Rams, newest members of the European League of Football, have announced the signing of veteran Val Gunn as their new head coach.

The Rams, formerly known as the Koc Rams, are also the defending and four-time Turkish champions but now will now apparently be amalgamated with several teams in Istanbul, the largest city in Europe.

Most recently, Gunn guided the Wroclaw Panthers to the Polish title in 2019 for the first time in two years.

The 54-year-old Gunn, who calls Sante Fe, New Mexico home, is a former Texas A&M quarterback and best selling author (In the Shadow of Swords) and coached extensively in Europe prior to his championship season in Poland. He had two stints coaching Norway’s Oslo Vikings (1997-98, 2006-2008) and in 2007 they defeated German semifinalists that year, the Berlin Adler, in EFAF Cup play. He also coached the Norwegian national team, France’s Aix-en-Provence Argonautes, the Paderborn Dolphins from Germany, when they played in the German Football League as well as Poland’s Wroclaw Devils.

The Rams won their fourth straight Turkish title in 2019, defeating the METU Falcons 29-19 in the championship game.

The European League of Football, ELF, recently completed its first year of play and has announced the addition of four more teams, including the Rams. The other three are the Rhein Fire from Germany and Austria’s Swarco Raiders and Dacia Vienna Vikings.