Success in American football doesn’t just happen on the field, it starts on the sidelines. An experienced and well-rehearsed coaching crew is the basis for sustainable sporting development. For the 2026 season, the Braunschweig Lions are relying on continuity, expertise and familiar faces.
The coaching team is led by Head Coach Brayden McCombswho also serves as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. He is supported by Gunnar Ströming as defensive coordinator. Together they form the foundation for an ambitious 2026 season.
Gerrit Katzsch – Quarterbacks / Passing Game
Gerrit Katzsch has been part of the coaching staff of the Braunschweig Lions GFL team since the 2025 season. Previously, he was the successful head coach of the Lions’ second men’s team for several years.
His football career began in 1997 with the Lehrte Renegades. As a player, he gained experience with the Munich Cowboys, Erding Bulls, Hannover Spartans and Hannover Grizzlies, among others – both as a tight end and as a quarterback. In 2010, Katzsch started his coaching career with the Munich Cowboys women’s team.
From 2022 to 2025 he was responsible for the Lions’ second men’s team as head coach. In 2026 he will now go into his second season on the coaching staff of the GFL team. In addition to working with the quarterbacks, he provides significant support in the planning and further development of the passing attack.
Oliver Burkhardt – Wide Receiver / Special Teams
Oliver Burkhardt joined the coaching team of the GFL team in 2025 from the 2nd men’s team. His football roots go back to 2004, when he first came into contact with the sport through a school club.
After a long break, he returned to the Lions’ second team as a player in 2019 and worked in various positions until 2024 – including wide receiver, tight end, kicker and punter. At the same time, he was already gaining his first coaching experience.
Burkhardt has been the wide receivers coach of the Braunschweig Lions since 2025 and will continue to hold this position in 2026. He also takes care of the special teams specialists.
Eric Yuma – Runningbacks
Eric Yuma has been responsible for the Braunschweig Lions’ running backs since 2013. The former competitive athlete can look back on an extraordinary career – both in football and in athletics, where he took part in the European and World Championships in the long jump.
His path in American football took him through numerous international stations, including the Brussels Raiders, Amsterdam Crusaders, Munich Cowboys and other teams, before he came to Braunschweig in 2002. His experience and expertise have shaped the Lions’ running game for over a decade.
Photos: Fabian Uebe
