So, I have been asked this question so many times here and in the US that I figure I better answer it. The question usually is – “How in the wide, wide world of sports did you get to Switzerland to Coach football?”
I already have a standard answer for the question. It was literally through a “friend of a friend who contacted a friend of his here in Switzerland.” That is the short answer – I do explain the longer more convoluted version on my blog at konkretekidinfootball.com.
But, really friends of mine at Judy Kowalkowki’s “Great Italian Food Fest and Wine Tasting” extravaganza encouraged me to look into going to Europe to have a football vacation (well OK an Episode or [Mis]adventure if you will).
Scott Kowalkowski and his cousin Brock Olivo – both former Lions – chimed in and told me it would be a great experience for me. After finishing playing Brock went to Italy and got a Master’s degree (he is fluent in Italian). While in Italy he played and coached football there.
Later Scott went over and he Brock and the Turino Jaguari (I think Turin is where they did it anyway) developed a camp for kids and coaches. They both said it was a fantastic time.
Well, the hook was set!
The Boss (wife) even told me to look into it (is she trying to get rid of me??).
Well, all of that is well and good. But, how do you get started? Well, I am not the smartest guy in the world but the internet is a great source of information (and some of it is also accurate and somewhat true).
I discover the site called American Football International which is administered by Roger Kelly who is now a good friend of mine. Then there was another very valuable resource called “Europlayers” where you can place your resume as a player or a coach. Literally thousands of teams worldwide use this spot to find coaches and also players to “import” to their teams in their specific country.
Great places to start. But, literally it came down to a friend of mine talking to a coaching mate of his (who I don’t know) who connected with a friend of his who sent me an email.
Bert Hill and I coached together for ten years or so. He was coaching at SMU and we were talking on the phone one day and I explained my newfound desire to become an international playboy … oh I mean international coach. (Think James Bond of football!)
He laughed it off and said I should get my ass out to Dallas and work with SMU if I was serious about coaching again. That sounded too much like work to me.
Anyway, about a week later he called me back and told me a member of the Mustang coaching staff had international playing and coaching experience and was willing to help me. Carlos Borachio-Leon had been working with Bert for several years.
He contacted a friend of his in Europe – who then passed him on to another friend of his Giorgio Volpi who was coaching with the Swiss Junior National Team. Giorgio emailed me and asked me if I would be interested in helping out in preparations for the European playoffs and then travel to Amsterdam to play the U-19 team from Germany.
Next thing I know I am “Skyping” – another think I knew nothing about – With Giorgio, the GM of the team Christian Krattiger, the Head Coach Michel Spitznagel and Stephan Pulver of the Tigers.
We all had a great visit … then some more later. Next thing I am going to Switzerland.
Now, that is the abbreviated version.