Aztecs Prepare for 2007

Aztecs Announce Coaching line-up for the Senior & Youth teams in 2007, as they prepare for the 2007 season in the British American Football League

[ClickPress, Mon Nov 27 2006] The Bristol Aztecs are delighted to confirm that Mark Hopkins returns to the team as Head Coach for a third consecutive year.

After 3 back to back bowl games under his guidance, and promotion last season, the Aztecs have been progressing well, and Hopkins is confident for the upcoming season. “I’m excited about the new league alignments, and the opportunity to be tested once again by the best in the country”.

Also returning are all three co-ordinators from the 2006 season, which includes offensive co-ordinator Martyn Ellis, defensive co-ordinator John Hartley, and special teams co-ordinator Stuart Ennew. They will be aided once again by Assistant Head Coach Albert Lambert who will lend his considerable knowledge to primarily the defensive line and defensive backs, and running backs coach Steve Pickford.

A new addition to the coaching staff is Steve Lee, who after several years pursuing other commitments, has decided to come on board full time to coach the Aztecs offensive line. Coach Lee has been head coach of the Bristol Bullets, offensive line coach for the GB Bulldogs, as well as offensive line coach, and run game co-ordinator for the Birmingham Lions in their BCAFL championship-winning year in 2005.

The Aztecs will be holding two off-season camps, followed by the Aztecs annual combine in early January which will be preceded by a widespread local marketing campaign including local press, television, and radio coverage, as well as a widespread poster campaign.

The Aztec Youth Coaching staff also return after the most successful year in the teams history. The young Aztecs were unbeaten in the regular season to top the English division, and after comfortably beating the Clyde Valley Hawks in the youth national semi final, narrowly lost the national championship in over time to the London Warriors, in what is now widely regarded as one of the best British youth finals ever.

Ben Herod returns as Head Coach, and defensive co-ordinator, while Damon Kirby returns as offensive co-ordinator. Kev Humphries will once again be looking after the offensive and defensive lines. Herod is optimistic about the upcoming season “Our primary aim is to develop the team ethic, and the individual players within our programme, confident in the knowledge that this will breed success. My coaches have been great this year, and I’m delighted that they will all be returning to help me develop our team, and the young men in it further”. The Aztec youth are already practicing Sundays, and Thursday evenings, having recently enjoyed the benefits of a local recruiting drive, which has already seen 50 new players commit to the cause. Coach Herod is still interested in recruiting further coaches and players with any level of experience for his programme.

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