University of Birmingham Sport’s (UBSport) American Football Head Coach has been announced as the only UK representative to be part of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Development team. Wayne Hill will be part of coaching staff for the 2012 USA Football International Bowl in Austin, Texas.
Founded in 2010, the IFAF World Development team is comprised of the best American Football players aged 17 and 18 around the world, and aims to identify and develop candidates who are eligible for future IFAF World Team rosters.
A number of players will be selected from the World Development team to fill the final spots on the IFAF World team to take on the Under-19 National team on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, also in Austin, Texas. Coach Hill will be leading the linebackers in the squad.
The UBSport American Football Head Coach said: ‘This is not only a great opportunity for the players, but also for every coach involved.
‘The program gives me, and every coach in it, the chance to develop our coaching and delivery, and from this we can go back to our respective countries and share this enhanced knowledge with the programs we work with and our players. I cannot wait to get started!’
Coach Wayne Hill joined the UBSport American Football club in 1998 as Defensive Co-ordinator before being named Head Coach 1999, a role he remained in till 2007. During this time he helped The Birmingham Lions win their first National Championship title in 2004/05.
For the following three years Wayne stepped down from Head Coach working as at D-Line Coach/HC Advisor for the 2008/09, before moving to Defensive Co-ordinator for the following season. His hands on approach meant that the team won two back-to-back Championship titles in 2008/09 and 2009/10.
In February 2011 Wayne began his second stint as Head Coach, a position he still remains, and helped the team reach the British Universities American Football League (BUAFL) Championship final for the third successive year.
However, Wayne only coaches the Birmingham Lions on a part-time basis, juggling successfully his responsibilities for UBSport with his role as Associate Assistant Headteacher at St Michael's CE High School, Sandwell. He also currently takes an active role at Senior Level as Offensive Co-ordinator with the Birmingham Bulls.
UBSport Club Development Manager, Chris Anthony, spoke of Coach Hill’s acknowledgment by IFAF saying: ‘Wayne’s selection is fitting recognition for one of our hardest working coaches. He has overseen great success during his 14 years with the club, developing individuals both on and off the pitch so his selection is well deserved.’
He added: ‘It’s great that Wayne is able to take what he has achieved with the Birmingham Lions to a global level, which says a lot about the standard of our teams at UBSport.’
The IFAF World Development Team is an ongoing player development initiative for talented athletes and will come under the supervision of World Development Team Coordinator Tim Enger. The Canadian has been employed at Football Alberta for the past 21 years and has developed several programs including the Senior Bowl High School All-Star Game, the Bantam Bowl, football's participation in the Alberta Summer Games, and Minor Provincials. His coaching experiences have spanned all levels of the tackle game and as a head coach his teams have won eight league or Provincial Championships.
Tim Enger. Canada. Development Team Coordinator
Michael Faulds. Canada. Quarterbacks
Hiroki Uno. Japan. Running Backs
Hugo Lira. Mexico. Wide Receivers
Stefan Bjorkman. Sweden. Offensive Line
Wayne Hill. Great Britain. Linebackers
Aitor Trabado. Spain. Defensive Backs
Olivier Moret. France. Special Teams
Barclay Spady. Canada. Defensive Line