ELF: Val Gunn steps down as HC/GM for Istanbul Rams

Citing personal reasons, the general manager and head coach of the Istanbul Rams, Val Gunn, has stepped down and will be returning to the United States.

The team has announced that Matt Lawson has been named the new interim head coach. Emir Can Kefeli will take over as the team’s new general manager.

The Rams, new to the ELF this year, opened the season with promise, barely losing to the Cologne Centurions 40-38. Since then, however, they have lost the rest of their games to date including a 49-0 loss to the Vienna Vikings this past weekend. Currently, Istanbul sits last in the ELF Southern Conference with a 0-4 record.

Prior to joining Istanbul this season, Gunn had 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 bestselling 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.