Storm’en kommer mens Bates fordufter.

Alt i mens Hvidovre Stars går i gang med slutspillet, annonceres en ny head coach, Torben Storm Jensen, samt en omstrukturering af assistent trænernes ansvars områder. Den store ændring i toppen, kommer fordi den nuværende head coach, Karl Bates, tager tilbage over dammen for at starte i et job som direktør for spillere hos Utah Blaze i Arena Football League (AFL) i USA.

Storm har lagt et utal af timer i både Roskilde Kings og Hvidovre Stars organisationer, og Storm er et kendt ansigt i dansk-amerikansk fodbold gennem de sidste 18 år, som spiller til træner for junior hold til at være formand for Roskilde Kings bestyrelsen gennem de sidste to sæsoner.

"At efterfølge Bates er en udfordrende og samtidig spændende opgave," forklarer Storm. ”På baggrund af en skade som flyttet mig ud på sidelinjen, har jeg fået mulighed for at træne og hjælpe holdet fremad. "

Med sine mange års erfaring i ligaen, fire Mermaid Bowl medaljer, og bidrag på både Junior og Senior landshold, bør det ikke påvirker Hvidovre Stars chancer for at vinde i slutspillet. Storm vil blive støttet af en stor gruppe af veteraner, som ved, hvad det kræver at vinde på det højeste niveau.

"Vi bakker op om hans beslutning [Bates beslutning], og Hvidovre Stars står et hundrede procent bag ham og acceptere hans beslutning," siger Tommy Andersen, bestyrelses formand for Hvidovre Stars. ”Det naturlige valg for os er at give Storm muligheden, og vi [Hvidovre Stars bestyrelse] føler han er en kompetent træner, der kan bære os gennem resten af sæsonen. "

Bates spillede syv sæsoner i AFL og vil i sin nye klub være blandt gamle venner, sin tidligere head coach og flere gamle holdkammerater, som i dag fungerer som trænere og arbejder i administrationen for Utah Blaze. Som direktør for spillere, vil Bates være talent spejder, stå for rekruttering og for at bringe nye spillere til holdet, samt hjælpe med holdets daglige drift. Jobbet bygger bro mellem spillerne og staben i Utah Blaze, og sikrer at spillere får en god introduktion til at spille på holdet, så de kan fokusere på at spille fodbold på højeste niveau.

"På trods af den dårlige timing nu hvor vi nærmer os slutspillet, acceptere jeg den fantastiske mulighed jeg har fået, for at blive del af en professionel organisation med fremragende kolleger, i en liga, jeg kender og elsker," udtrykker Bates.

"Det er simpelthen en mulighed, jeg ikke kunne lad passere, og efter at Danmark har været mit hjem gennem de seneste to og et halvt år, kan jeg kun håbe, at de relationer og arbejde jeg har udført under mit ophold kan bære Hvidovre Stars til Mermaid Bowl og videre. "

Når den ordinære sæson slutter i dag, skal Hvidovre Stars kun at vinde semifinalen for at komme i Mermaid Bowl, den 2. oktober.

English

Storm Comes as Bates Sets Ablaze

The Hvidovre Stars announce the naming of new head coach, Torben Storm Jensen, and the reshuffling of assistant duties as the shoot their way into post-season play. The major move at the top, comes as current head coach, Karl Bates, makes his way back overseas to assume the role of Director of Player Personnel for the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League.

Giving countless hours to the Kings and Stars organizations, Storm has been a staple in Danish-American football for the past 18 years, from playing to coaching junior teams to serving a chairman of the Kings board for the past two seasons.

“Taking over for Bates is a challenging and at the same time exciting task,” explains Storm. Being sidelined by an injury has only made the itch to coach and help the team progress in any way I can that much stronger.”

With his numerous years of experience in the league, four mermaid Bowl medals, and time on both the Junior and Senior national teams, the move should not affect the Stars chances to win in the post-season. Storm will be supported by a large group of veterans who know what it takes to win the highest prize.

“We see the best in his [Bates] decision and the Stars are one hundred percent behind him for accepting the position,” said Tommy Andersen, Chairman of the Stars board. Our most natural option is to bring Storm up, and we [Stars Board] feel he is a competent coach that can carry us through the rest of the season.”

Bates played seven seasons in the AFL and will find his new home among old friends, rejoining his former head coach and several old teammates who serve as coaches and administration for the Blaze. As Director of Player Personnel, Bates will be in charge of scouting, recruiting and bringing players to the team, as well as assisting in football operations. The position bridges the gap between the players themselves and the Blaze staff, assuring a comfortable transition to the team and accommodating players in a way that allows them to focus playing championship level football.
“Despite the poor timing as we approach post-season play, I have been afforded a wonderful opportunity to join a professional organization with a group of excellent colleagues, in a league I know and love,” Bates emotes.

“It’s simply a situation I could not pass on, and after making my home in Denmark for the past two and a half years, I can only hope that the lasting relationships and impact of my stay carry the Stars to the Mermaid Bowl and beyond.”

With the regular season coming to an end today, the Stars have only to win the Semi-final to place themselves in the Mermaid Bowl, October 2.