Multi title winning coach Lee Rowland to speak at European Coaches Convention

AFI | American Football | 11/01/2021

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The European Coaches Convention is coming up this weekend, November 6-7 in Berlin, Germany, and one of the key speakers will be the winner of many championship titles, Berlin Adler offensive coordinator Lee Rowland

The 68 year old Rowland is one of the most successful coaches in Europe over the past four decades, most recently helping the Berlin Adler return to the German Football League’s top division. The Adler went unbeaten in the GFL2 regular season, racking up 409 points in nine games and went on to two victories in the relegation rounds to advance to the GFL for 2022. Teamed up with head coach Shuan Fatah, Rowland has fashioned an impressive coaching record over the past 12 years.

Rowland arrived in Berlin with Fatah and the Adler in 2009 as offensive coordinator and helped the team capture the German championship following that up in 2010 with a second straight appearance in the German Bowl to go along with winning the Eurobowl that same year. He moved to Austria’s Swarco Raiders, together with Fatah, in 2011 and had an immediate impact as the team captured the first of five Austrian titles between 2011 and 2019 with Rowland running the offense. The team also reached the Eurobowl three more times, winning it twice (2011, 2013). Swarco won the Central European Football League tournament three times with Rowland as offensive coordinator while capturing the European Club Team Competition, ECTC title.

His coaching career started back in 1983 in Great Britain and in 1993 took over as offensive coordinator with the London Olympians. The team won the Eurobowl in 1993 and 1994 while capturing the English crown three times. Moving to Germany in 1996, he coached the Hanau Hawks (1996-98), Aschaffenburg Stallions (1999) and Rüsselsheim Razorbacks (2003, defensive coordinator). In 2005 he took over as head coach of the GFL2 team the Darmstadt Diamonds, helping them advance to the GFL in 2006 and reach the quarterfinals that year. Rowland has also coached on the British national team, Cologne Centurions in NFL Europe and at Webber International University in Florida.

With such an extensive background in football, we asked him about his coaching philosophy and his reasons for speaking at this event.

AFI: What are the keys to building a winning team?

Rowland: I think it might be better to recite our mantra with the Adler: How we Win

Toughness

We will be physically and mentally confident

Togetherness

Gang mentality, we care for each other

Fundamentals

Unconscious competence, our Valhalla

Compete

Our religion, always compete to be the best

Don’t flinch

4^th Quarter last play, always believe we will win

How can teams best develop young talent?

Coach the coaches

Competent coaches at the youth level.

Ensuring the same terminology is used throughout the program

AFI: Why did you choose to take part in the convention?

Rowland: Bart is a friend of mine and I always welcome the chance to give back to the game.

AFI: What is one thing you would tell young coaches?

Rowland: If you want to make it a career, then you need to get to a program where you can learn and understand the game. Coaching in Europe and making a career here is tough as there are not many openings for full time coaches. USA is where the jobs are, but you must start at the bottom as a GA and work your way up, its not for everyone and perhaps the most important is find a partner that will understand and support you.

AFi: What does coaching mean to you?

Rowland: It’s not a job when you get up in the morning and are able to go and do something that you really enjoy every day. Being around the players and being able in some cases to help them get to the highest level of the game is very rewarding and helps motivate me to continue to coach this great game.

You can listen to Lee Rowland speak at the European Coaches Convention on Saturday, November 6 at 3 pm (15-15:50) CET.