NEW APPOINTMENTS TO NATIONAL TEAM & COACHES ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL TEAM

The Irish American Football Association is pleased to announce some new appointments to the management and the coaching staff of the Irish National Team.

Marcus Naylor has been appointed as the new General Manager. Marcus is co-GM of the Dublin Rebels, who've won the last two Irish Championships and it is hoped that the excellent skills he's shown with the Rebels organisation will be a great asset to the National Team. He replaces Peter O'Rourke who resigned due to work pressures. Paul Whelan will continue in his Assistant GM role.

On the coaching side, Head Coach Phil DeMonte will be joined by two new co-ordinators. John Durrad of the Dublin Dragons will be the Offensive Coordinator and Mark Harris of the Carrickfergus Knights will be the Defensive Coordinator. Diarmuid Haugh of the UL Vikings has been appointed as Player Coordinator. Some further additions to the coaching squad are expected over the next couple of weeks.

The Irish National Team will hold their first training session of the year in Dublin on February 27th. In May they will face NCAA Division 3 side, Adrian College in Celtic Classic II.

COACHES ASSOCIATION

Mark Lawless has been appointed as the Chair of the newly reformed Irish American Football Coaches Association. The IAFCA is currently preparing a new constitution and structure which will be announced at their AGM in May. National Team Head Coach Phil DeMonte was appointed as the Education Officer. The IAFCA will be introducing some coaching courses to Ireland later in 2005. The Irish Sports Council has provided funding for the courses which will be arranged in conjunction with the National Coaches Training Centre.