WARNER RETURNS TO LIONS HEAD COACH ROLE

Dave Warner has been restored as head coach of the Prague Lions following James Brooks’ decision to leave the franchise for another programme.

The Lions confirmed Warner’s promotion from offensive coordinator on Monday, returning the veteran American to the position in which he led Prague to its first winning campaign at professional European level in 2025.

“Coach James Brooks has made the decision to step down as our head football coach to accept an opportunity with another programme,” the Lions announced. “We are deeply grateful for Coach Brooks’ hard work, leadership and dedication during his time with us. We wish him and his family the absolute best in his next chapter.

“At the same time we are excited to announce the promotion of offensive coordinator Dave Warner as our new head football coach. Coach Warner brings years of experience, and a strong track record of winning and leadership to our team. And we look forward to a smooth transition as we prepare for next season.”

Brooks’ next destination has not yet been revealed, but his departure ends four consecutive seasons of involvement with the Lions, beginning with two years as a defensive lineman before he retired from playing. He served as defensive coordinator under Warner in 2025 and was promoted to head coach for Prague’s inaugural European Football Alliance campaign.

Warner’s appointment completes an unusually circular sequence of coaching changes. Having left Prague for the Madrid Bravos after the 2025 season, he returned as offensive coordinator two games into the 2026 campaign and will now begin a second spell in the senior role. Warner originally joined the Lions as head coach before the 2025 European League of Football season and transformed a team that had won twice across its first two professional campaigns in to a 7–5 outfit that remained in playoff contention until late in the year.

Warner subsequently agreed to become head coach of the Madrid Bravos, having previously served as the Spanish franchise’s offensive coordinator in 2024, but that move unravelled when Madrid withdrew from European competition shortly before the 2026 season. A brief spell as senior offensive assistant with Rhein Fire followed, but Warner was back in Prague by late May after Fred Armstrong unexpectedly stepped down as the Lions’ offensive coordinator. Warner returned to the sideline after defeats against Nordic Storm and Paris Musketeers had left Prague 0–2.

Although the Lions remained at the foot of the EFA standings, their attack improved sufficiently for Warner to be named the league’s Assistant Coach of the Year. Across his eight games as coordinator, Prague amassed more than 3,100 yards and scored 25 offensive touchdowns. Two dramatic back-to-back victories demonstrated the threat the Lions posed despite their record, as Prague defeated Raiders Tirol 45–44 before overcoming Paris 36–35 in overtime, but losing its remaining games left the Czech franchise sixth in the EFA standings at 2–8.

Warner will again work with quarterback Jaylon Henderson, whose extension for the 2027 season has already been confirmed. Henderson threw 17 touchdown passes during his first year in Prague and added seven scores on the ground, and his return offers continuity at the centre of an offense that developed as the season progressed.

Brooks’ exit ends a four-year run with the Lions in which he progressed from defensive lineman to defensive coordinator and, finally, head coach. The former Arizona State and North Alabama defensive lineman first appeared for Prague in 2016 before returning in 2018 and later spending the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the franchise. He retired from playing after the latter campaign and became Warner’s defensive coordinator in 2025. When Warner initially left for Madrid, Prague promoted Brooks to head coach in an attempt to preserve the structure behind the previous season’s improvement.

That continuity proved difficult to sustain, however, and Armstrong’s early departure forced a significant offensive change, while Prague conceded 398 points during the season — the highest total in the six-team EFA — and suffered heavy defeats against each of the eventual finalists. Brooks nevertheless oversaw the narrow wins against Tirol and Paris and was included among the EFA’s Coach of the Year nominees despite Prague’s record.

Warner now begins his second spell in charge with greater knowledge of the problems confronting the Lions and evidence that his offence can compete. The 67-year-old brings more than three decades of coaching experience, most notably from a long college career that included serving as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Michigan State.