The Rhein Fire, back-to-back European League of Football (ELF) champions, have fortified their coaching staff with the hiring of Fred Armstrong as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, poaching the veteran leader from the Austrian Football League’s frontrunning Danube Dragons (Vienna).
Coaching pedigree spans Europe and NFL
Armstrong, 59, joins Rhein Fire after guiding the Danube Dragons to the 2022 Austrian Bowl title and the 2024 Central European Football League (CEFL) championship. His resume includes five Swedish Superserien titles, two as offensive coordinator for the Stockholm Mean Machines (Stockholm) in 2018 and 2019. The New Jersey native who is also head coach for the Dutch Lions, the Dutch national team, led the team to a 24-14 victory over Belgium in 2025, their first international win since 2015.
Decades of transatlantic experience
Since beginning his European coaching career in 1991 with the Solna Chiefs (Stockholm), Armstrong has amassed an amazing record across club and national teams. His adaptability spans roles with the Stuttgart Scorpions (German Football League), Leipzig Kings (ELF), and collegiate/NFL stints, including positions with the New York Giants (2006) and New York Jets (2015).
Dragons partnership fuels Fire’s ambition
Rhein Fire GM Max Paatz highlighted collaboration with the Danube Dragons to secure Armstrong’s release: “We thank the Dragons and president Uras Aslan for their openness. With former Dragons like Chad Jeffries and Destiny Idiahi already here, this partnership strengthens both clubs.” Head coach Richard Kent, who worked alongside Armstrong as Leipzig Kings’ defensive coordinator in 2022, praised his “deep understanding of European football’s unique challenges.”
Immediate impact sought
Armstrong transitions directly to Rhein Fire’s ELF Week 6 clash against the Vienna Vikings, collaborating with interim OC Mario Schulz to improve the team’s slumping offense (18.4 PPG). His task: refine an attack that has thrived on balanced execution, leveraging existing personnel like former Danube Dragons standouts Chad Jeffries and Destiny Idiahi.
Legacy of development
Beyond play-calling, Armstrong brings a reputation for nurturing talent. At Bonneville High School (Idaho), he ended a decade-long playoff drought (2011–2016), while his 1998 European Coach of the Year award (Stuttgart Scorpions) underscores his developmental ethos.
The hire signals Rhein Fire’s intent to become Europe’s first ELF three-peat champion, leveraging Armstrong’s hybrid European-NFL expertise. All details derive from official team announcements and verified coaching records.