PETER VAAS, offensive assistant coach of the Barcelona Dragons for the past two seasons, has been named as head coach of the Berlin Thunder. The 46-year-old former head coach at Holy Cross University succeeds WES CHANDLER, who joined the Dallas Cowboys as wide receivers coach earlier this month after guiding the Thunder through their inaugural season. NFL Europe League President BILL PETERSON said: “The NFLEL and Berlin Thunder are very pleased to introduce Peter Vaas as the team’s new head coach. He has achieved great success as a coach at many levels of the game and I am sure he will use that experience to build a strong team in Berlin.” Thunder general manager MICHAEL LANG said: “Peter has great experience in coaching offenses, so the fans in Berlin can expect exciting offensive play from the Thunder in the upcoming season. We are very happy to have Peter as our head coach and he has already been very involved with the team in the past few days, particularly in handling the free agent draft.” Vaas, a former college quarterback, joined the Dragons as offensive assistant in 1998 and last year helped the team to a league-best 7-3 record and a berth in World Bowl ’99. Under his guidance, Dragons running back LAWRENCE PHILLIPS set a league single-season record with 1,021 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. “I believe that the opportunity in Berlin is probably the best in the league,” said Vaas. “It is a new franchise with a bright future and it is very exciting to be part of developing what could become one of the strongest organisations in Europe. “Working with coach JACK BICKNELL in Barcelona has been the ideal preparation for this challenge. Jack does such a great job with the players and coaches and I don’t think I could have got better exposure anywhere else.” A native of Westwood, Massachusetts, Vaas was a walk-on quarterback at Holy Cross who became a three-year starter. He threw for 2,642 yards and 21 touchdowns in his college career and set nine school records as a senior. For five years he was an assistant coach at Allegheny College and from 1979-85 was an offensive assistant at the University of New Hampshire. Vaas returned to Allegheny as head coach from 1986-89, turning a team that had not had a winning season in seven years before his arrival into North Coast Athletic Conference champions in his second season with a 9-0-1 regular season record. After compiling a 29-11-1 record in four seasons at Allegheny, Vaas became quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame, where he coached RICK MIRER, who was to become a first-round NFL draft in 1993. From 1992-95 Vaas was head coach at Holy Cross, before spending a season as offensive coordinator at the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Allouettes. He and his wife Rosann have two daughters, Katelyn and Kelly. For further information please contact Mike Preston or David Tossel prestonm@nflp.co.uk or tosselld@globalnet.co.uk Tel: 44-(0)171 225 3070 / Fax: 44(0)171 376 5070 All releases and breaking news will be posted on www.NFLeurope.com