PRAGUE LIONS PROMOTE DC BROOKS TO FILL HEAD COACH VACANCY

The Prague Lions did not have to look far when it came to filling their vacant head coaching position, opting to promote from within to replace 2025 HC Dave Warner.

Warner’s decision to step down from the Prague job coincided with a similar statement from Madrid regarding Andrew Weidinger and sees the former — who transformed the Lions from a single win (in two seasons) outfit to a 7-5 threat to the ELF establishment — return to the Bravos having served as their offensive coordinator in 2024.

In his stead, Prague have elevated defensive coordinator James Brooks to the senior role for 2026, ensuring consistency in the Lions ranks. Brooks played defensive end for the Czech team in 2023 and ‘24, before retiring and moving into the coaching ranks. A long-time ‘import’ having played in both Europe and Japan since 2013, Brooks previously starred at both Arizona State and North Alabama.

His first taste of coaching came in 2014, as defensive coordinator for Kozly Poznan of the Polish league, a position he held while alternating seasons with the IBM Big Blue of Japan’s X-League, where he was a seven-time All-League nomination. He first played for Prague in 2016, and returned to play for the Lions in the European League of Football in 2023.