Martino Earns Sportexe Coach of the Year for NFL Europa

July 25th, 2007

Sportexe Awards Sea Devils Coach Top Honor

ROUND ROCK, Texas. July 18, 2007—Sportexe® is proud to announce Vince Martino, head coach of the Hamburg Sea Devils, as the winner of the 2007 Sportexe Coach of the Year award for his efforts in NFL Europa, formerly NFL Europe, this season. Martino joins previous Sportexe Coach of the Year winners such as the NFL’s John Fox and Sean Payton, CFL’s Tom Higgins and Wally Buono and NFL Europa’s Doug Graber.

Sportexe, a global leader in the synthetic turf industry, has become synonymous with excellence and the Sportexe Coach of the Year award has become a respected symbol that recognizes football coaching talent from all over the world that demonstrates the same quality, integrity and performance that has become synonymous with the Sportexe brand.

“This is a tremendous honor from Sportexe,” said Martino. “It is a reflection of the fine job conducted by the entire Hamburg organization, from the front office to the support staff to the coaches and players.”

Martino, in his first year as head coach after spending two seasons as Hamburg’s offensive coordinator under legendary coach Jack Bicknell, led the Sea Devils to its first World Bowl appearance in franchise history and captured the league title with 37-28 victory against the host Frankfurt Galaxy in front of 48,125 fans.

Martino, had joined the now defunct-Barcelona Dragons in 1991 as an offensive coach during the league’s inception as the World League of American Football, which consisted of 10 teams located throughout North America and Europe. He coached in four World Bowls with the Dragons, the most recent being World Bowl IX in 2001. Martino won a World Bowl ring in 1997.

“Coach Martino coached for me for 30 years while I was head coach at the University of Maine, Boston College and with NFL Europe, so I know him quite well,” said Bicknell, now retired. “I am so excited for all the success Coach Martino has enjoyed this season with the World Bowl, and especially with his acknowledgement from Sportexe as the outstanding football coach I have always known him to be.”

On July 2, the NFL decided to discontinue the operation of NFL Europa, a six-team, all-European venture.

“The era of NFL Europe has ended,” said Aaron S. Lee, football coaching insider and Sportexe spokesperson. “But not the legacy it leaves behind. Men like Coach Martino and Coach Graber not only embody the true spirit of Sportexe, but also the truest spirit of football.

“Sportexe is proud to call Coach Martino the 2007 Sportexe Coach of the Year in NFL Europa. We look forward to what should be continued success throughout Coach Martino’s career no matter what league he may call home.”

Dedicated to providing proven, technology-rich synthetic field systems worldwide, Sportexe has developed a reputation for unsurpassed quality - from start to finish. Since its incorporation in 1989, Sportexe has been perfecting the finest details that go into making better, safer, and higher performing athletic surfaces.

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Entry Filed under: Also Featured, Coach of the Year