Helvetic Guards

The Helvetic Guards are an American football team based in Switzerland. The team starts in the 2023 season in the European League of Football (ELF).[1]

Helvetic Guards
Team logo
Founded2022
Based inSwitzerland Switzerland
Home stadiumLidl Arena Wil
Head coachNorm Chow
General managerToni Zöller
LeagueEuropean League of Football (ELF)
Websitehelveticguards.ch

History

The entry of the newly founded franchise into the professional league was announced on 13 May 2022, during a press conference to open the 2022 ELF season by the team's general manager Toni Zöller. Together with co-owner Mukadder Erdönmez and others they established the first ELF franchise in Switzerland.[2][3]

On 26 August 2022, the team announced Norm Chow as the head coach for the European League of Football 2023 season.[4]

On 30 October 2022 the front office announced that they will play their home games in the Lidl Arena in Wil, Switzerland, about 25 miles (40km) eastern of Zürich.[5]

On 2 December 2022, the team signed Colin Hill to be their starting quarterback.[6] They added fellow US-American running back and wide receiver Silas Nacita on 17 December 2022.[7]

Roster
2023 Helvetic Guards roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams


Rookies in italics
 Roster updated 14 February 2023
4 A-import, 6 E-import, 47 homegrown
57 active

Staff
2023 Helvetic Guards staff

Front office

  • Owner – Mukadder Erdönmez
  • General Manager – Toni Zöller
  • Head of football operations – Zeki Öztürk
  • Head of administration – Ferhat Kahraman

Head coach

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator – n/a
  • Quarterbacks – n/a
  • Running backs – Darius Willis
  • Wide receivers – Mike Wilson
  • Tight ends – Pete Metzelaars
  • Offensive line – Bob Palcic
  • Offensive assistant – Rudy Fonkoue, Christian Warzecha
  

Defensive coaches

  • Defensive coordinator – Jim Ward
  • Defensive line – n/a
  • Linebackers – Don Clemons
  • Defensive backs – n/a
  • Defensive assistant – Khaled Bassyouny, Armin Waldherr, Chris Krattiger

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams coordinator – Pete Metzelaars
  • Special teams coach – Glenn Chase


Strength and conditioning

  • Athletic Director – Matt Hammer, J.C. Williams


Staff updated 14 February 2023

References
  1. "European League of Football - Neue ELF-Teams: Mailand, Zürich und Budapest steigen in European League of Football ein". www.ran.de (in German). 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  2. "ELF adds Milano Seamen, Fehérvár Enthroners, and Zurich for 2023". American Football International. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  3. Marco Ackermann (23 June 2022). "Mit dem Geist der Schweizergarde – wie in Zürich ein Hotspot für American Football entstehen soll". NZZ.ch (in German). Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  4. "Helvetic Guards announce changes in the coaching staff with Super Bowl champions | European League of Football News".
  5. "LIDL Arena Wil announced as Homefield". helveticguards.ch. 30 October 2022.
  6. "Helvetic Guards sign Collin Hill at quarterback | European League of Football News".
  7. "Helvetic Guards sign running back Silas Nacita | European League of Football News".
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