Maidstone Pumas Unveil New Head Coach
Maidstone Pumas are pleased to announce the appointment of Rory Hunte as Head Coach of the adult team. Coach Hunte has a history in Britball going back to the pioneering days of the of the mid 1980’s when he played at Safety for the Greenwich Rams. Coach Hunt brings a wealth of experience and coaching talent to the Pumas gained during his various coaching appointments. He has also had the benefit of some tremendous coaching education from the likes of Howard Mudd, the then O-Line coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and Marty Schottenheimer whilst he was Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns.
Coach Hunte took up his first coaching position in 1986 at the Lee Valley Warriors from Walthamstow, who competed in the Budwieser Premier Division. From here Coach Hunte moved on to become Head Coach of the Barbarians from Hackney from 1987 to 1998 during this time the team only lost one game. Following his success with the Barbarians, Coach Hunte was appointed Head Coach at the newly formed Barracuda in 1990 where he enjoyed the most successful time of his coaching career to date. He guided a squad of 28 players to an undefeated regular season and to the BNGL First Division Bowl Game, running their own brand of triple option football ‘The Fishbone.’ Following the success of that season Coach Hunte was given the honour of leading the BNGL Southern All-Star team in the then annual North V South game, Britains own version of the College Senior Bowl and NFl’s Pro Bowl, all of which was quite an achievement for someone not yet 30.
Coach Hunte went to live abroad soon after this where he has been until very recently. Pumas Chairman & GM Stuart Crowley and Coach Hunte have a long history together going right back to their days together at the Barracuda.
“For the past couple of years I have constantly been joking with Coach asking when he was coming back to England because we really needed a Head Coach. Never did I think I would get an email saying I am here, how do I get to Britbowl this weekend? Which is what I received last September.” said the delighted Pumas GM.
Since this time Coach Hunte and GM Crowley have been talking a lot about football and the Pumas and following 3 very successful Mini Camps and a positive start to pre-season training Coach Hunte accepted the position of Head Coach, despite interest and offers from other BAFA organisations.
“I am very excited by this appointment and Coach has already brought his own inimitable style to practice sessions and the enthusiasm amongst the returning players and rookies is as good as we have ever seen at the Pumas. His ethics of hard work, focus and commitment are quickly being instilled within the players, which is only going to be a good thing for the team. It is great to have Coach back in Britball and even better that he is here with us at the Pumas and I am personally looking forward to what this season and the future could bring to the Pumas” added Stuart Crowley.
Coach Hunte said of his appointment,
“I am happy to be working with the Pumas, a team that has had a rough time in many ways. I will get the winning spirit back to the team together with a solid work ethic and good knowledge of football fundamentals and with that they can build a legacy of quality football because the assistant coaches and players who will become coaches, will have a solid foundation to grow themselves and develop the sport for the youth in the area.”
Please join our official FaceBook group at - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maidstone-Pumas-American-Football-Organisation/145154708873143
or follow us on twitter at - www.twitter.co.uk/MaidstonePumas