Tim Jolin, the former American head coach of Békéscsaba Raptors answered some of our journalist’s questions.
The Hungarian American Football Federation (MAFSZ) began a new series of articles, in which coaches and players from the North American continent speak about what it is like in their Hungarian teams, how did they get to Hungary and what methods are they using to reach their goals. This series not only include people from the USA but from Canada.
A big spirit in a big body. That is Tim Jolin, former head coach of the Békéscsaba Raptors, who was training and playing for his team. Although he cannot continue his work at Békéscsaba, however, he is one of those Americans who started to build up a system at his team. Tim Jolin talked about his coaching philosophy and what is it like to coach and play at the same time.
First of all, where did you grow up in the US and why did you choose American football?
I grew up in Washington State on the west coast. For the ten years before coming to Hungary I lived in Seattle. In secondary school my best sport was American football. I have always been a big person. So, I knew that playing the line positions would be my best place. I enjoy the physicality of this area and the intelligence it takes to be a good lineman. After university I decided to begin coaching in the sport. I believe American football is the best sport in the world. There is nothing like it because of the teamwork and dedication and precision required to be successful.
How did you get in touch with Békéscsaba?
My daughter and I have dual citizenship. My wife is just USA. We wanted to come and live in Europe and getting her a teaching job was the easiest way to do that. We found an organization that places teachers in schools in Hungary and they found Békéscsaba for us. Before we moved here in August 2012, I discovered that there was an American Football team here. I emailed Tibor Hajdú and he very happily invited me to join the team.
Was it easy to become an important part of the team?
They had a head coach from the previous year that had gone back to the US for the winter. He wanted to return but the team decided it was easier for me to coach them since I was already here. So, after a few months of using the previous coach’s offense and defense, I was able to implement my own. The team was very welcoming and enthusiastic. I felt like part of a family right away.
What kind of philosophy do you use as a coach?
My philosophy is that I am not a ‘baby-sitter.’ I am not going to yell and scream to try to get them to care about American football. So, I will put many hours into training and working and learning and I expect the players to do the same. Basically, I am running as fast as I can and I want everyone else to run that fast too.
You play and coach at the same time. Is it difficult for you? You have to put up a good performance as a coach and as a player.
Yes, I would rather not do both. I am 35 years old. I should not still be playing but I am really smart about football and can be very effective still. But, our offense is on ‘wrist coaches’ so it is very easy for me to call a play reading from the wrist coach. This last match I played mostly defense and this was easier. I could see what the Titan’s defense was doing and call plays from the sideline on offense.
How do you see the situation here in Hungary?
Most of the teams I coached in Seattle would beat even the Wolves or Hurricanes. Even though the players are 16-18 years old. It is because they train every day and they do not make silly mistakes. All of the teams I played against here have extremely talented players. Many of them could be playing at the university level in the US. However, the teams do not have the kind of system as the US. There is not adequate time for teams here to really play well as a team. I played in the HFL against the Wolves and Hurricanes. They had very good players but as a team they were comparable to a good high school team in the US. There are very good athletes here and American Football is becoming more popular. I think it will not be long before the teams are able to improve their training and maybe even place some players in Universities in the US. I have one player who has a chance to go to the US to play. When a few players start to have success like that I think it will transform the sport here.
What are your goals with the team?
After two years I have told the team I will not be returning. My family spent two years here but we now have to find real jobs. We are searching in Budapest and many other cities. I wanted to leave the team with a solid junior program but that has not happened. The amount of time required to administrate an American football team is enormous and it was all the captains could do to just organize one team. There is a lot of interest in American Football here in Békés county but we have not been able to harness it yet. That is why I said it is a transition year for the team. The old leadership is stepping down and younger leaders must step up.
Photos: Gábriel János, others provided by Tim Jolin