Dean Cokinos is the name of the new head coach in Graz. They “sniffed” each other for two weeks in July before the decision was made. The interim trainer Daniel Schönet and Brandon Gorsuch, those after the separation from Martin Kocian who took over the office together in April of this year, will remain on board as Defense and Offense Coordinators.
The people of Graz pursue a sustainable plan and strive for further development at all levels – young talent, men’s team and coaching staff. Cokinos should be the main element.
“I am pleased about the opportunity to be head coach in Graz.”, so Cokinos. „I had one of the two weeks that I have now spent in Graz Opportunity to work with the players and coaches. I see some very talented and experienced National player. There seems to be a good foundation on which you can build up. “
Indoor Football und GFL
Born in Boston, the father of two played as a running back for the University of Boston Massachusetts. Upon graduation, Cokinos served as a college-level assistant coach at Austin Peay State, West Alabama, and the University of Massachusetts. He also coached several teams in the Arena Football League (AFL) and the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). 2008 won the Arena Cup IX with the Tennessee Valley Viper. In 2013 he was named “Coach of the Year” and was in the final of the PIFL with the Alabama Hammers.
Cokinos was also head coach in the German Football League for eight seasons. And very successfully. With the Munich Cowboys he remained unbeaten in the regular season in 2000 and 2001 (12-0) and led Bayern to the German Bowl semi-finals. In 2003 he also reached the semifinals as head coach of the Berlin Adlers. From 94 to 97 he was the head coach of the Noris Rams. His GFL record is impressive: 77 wins are compared to only 25 defeats. In 2019 the Rebels brought him back to the German capital as Defense Coordinator.
The experience in Germany was one of the reasons why the people of Graz opted for Cokinos, like Giants board member Christian Weissina the Small newspaper betrayed. “He knows a lot about football and the club scene in Europe, he can handle the structures. At the end of July he was in Graz to watch the team in training and in the final games. It was important for us that he could get to know the team and the environment. “
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