Q&A With James D Hartel, former Head Coach London Olympians
Ql. Tell us a bit about your background as far a football is concerned.
First let me say that my day job, a test engineer for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft prevents me from my true love; Coaching Football, but I have managed to squeeze in a couple of seasons, and hopefully I can get in another this year.
1995 Arizona Western College Yuma Az. Ass.t to the Def. Co ordinator & linebacker coach, Punters and Kickers coach. First exposure to the college game. It truly was a learning experience. I scripted all defensive series both practice and games, Learned to break game films down and how to run a program.
1989 Def Co ordinator Riverside Rams semi pro team, This was close to the Brit Game. Practice Tue, Thus, Sat and play Sunday. Believe it or not I ran the Defense I used with the Olympians and it worked, and to make some changes, but it took us to the play off's in the So Cal Semi Pro League.
1985 86 (Brit Ball) Started off as the Defensive Coordinator in 1985 and Became Head Coach in 1986 I will go into that in detail later on.
1979-1985 RAF Mildenhall Mauraders. Player Defensive Coordinator and Assn't Head Coach started out as the place kicker and wound up as an assn't defensive coach by default, I started helping out and would up a coach. I worked my way up the ladder to an assn't head coach.
1978 Kadena AB Falcons, Kadena AB Japan, Special Teams Coach
1975-1977 Yokota Raiders,Yokota AB,Japan. Place Kicker and Defensive Line
1974 Kadena AB Japan Place Kicker
1970- 1971 Clark AB Roadrunners, Clark Ab Phillipines Offensive Center and Place Kicker
1961-1962 Clark AB Hornets, Center
1956-1957 South Division High School Milwaukee Wisconsin , J. V. Center
2) How did you get involved in Britball ?
Steve Dye got me involved. Steve was a new football fan that tracked me down early in the 1984. I was the temp head coach at Mildenhall and this guy calls me up and says he is an American Football fanatic and wanted to know if he could come see a game.He came up the next week end and I took him to watch RAF Alconbury play RAF Bentwaters the bug hit him and he decided to form a team, The Wandsworth Rams ( I still have a poster) He got it together with a fellow named Mike Feldman, an American studding in London. They worked out a training deal with John Carney, owner of the Olympian Gym, thus the Olympians were born. The running of the team soon got to big for him and John and Martin Fletcher took over. I went to watch a game and I could see Coach Feldman need help. I actually came out of the stands and started coaching the rest is history. The following year I replaced Coach Feldman and made the 190 mile round trip to Crystal Palace three times a week for training and four trips during the season...
3) Compare a typical British player, as compare to a typical American player -
Comparing a Brit Player to and American player is difficult but speed, quickness. The Semi pro team I coached for reminded me allot of Brit Ball, And I do believe the the British player can compete with these athletes given time, and that is not to far away, but we must get the Brit player to the next level, The youngsters in the youth leagues must play in the American College system so they may be the future of Brit Ball and stars in the World League if not the NFL
4) Name some British players that really impressed you when you were here and why
Joe St. Louis, Ravens, 77 yard run in Bud Bowl 1, caught us with our "Knickers Down" In fact the Ravens as a squad were very good. They did set the standard.
Mike Duncan our corner back, he had the heart of a lion and never quit on us. One more thing. The Leciester Panthers were a class act, I'm sorry that I cannot recall the team owners nor any of the players names. But I had the opportunity to work with them a few times before I went to the Olympians. I was truly saddened that they folded. I read that on the internet on Friday.
5) What, do you feel, were the major problems with the game when you were here ?
When I left after the 86 season I thought everything was finally on track..A lot of teams had a major sponsor. In the summer of 1990 I was in England on holiday and an editorial in Gridiron almost called the game dead in England. Each time I went to England I tried to find out what is going on and drew a blank. The Winchester Rifles, UEA Pirates and Cardiff university have web sites which have some information but generally until your page there was nothing..Any way it aseems things are still a little unstable, but your still in there. .And I hope you keep things going..
6) What are your fondest momories of football in Britain ?
The entire experience. Those two seasons with the "O"s are the highlight of my football experience but two things stand out, and both are very dear to me. During pre game warm ups for Summer Bowl 1 at Aston Villa, John Carney and I walked around the pitch, and he said "J.D.We did it. How we did it I don't know, but here we are..." And the second was when we beat Scotland for a challenge cup and later during athe post game party both teams were drinking champagne from the cup and singing "NEW York,NEW York" silly I know, but it was the togetherness of it that made it special.
7) What are you thoughts on the world league ?
The Best thing that ever happened...
8)Are there any aspects of coaching you do not enjoy ?
Losing.Injuries to players.Giving 110% of yourself and having a gifted player only give 50% and having an attitude of "I too good".. The NCAA has made it illegal to take off the helmet to bring focus on a single player and also made Illegal to Prance & dance in the end zone...I call it 'styling'.Good move by the NCAA
This fall I hope to be coaching as a volunteer with our local Jr. College ,Riverside Community College. Coaching Football is a passion for me. To be able to teach the game is my desire. I retire from my "second career" in the fall of 98, And I plan do devote my time to coaching. Actually I would like to coach Junior College ball here in the fall and coach somewhere in England again....I plan to spend 6 months here and 6 months in England..
You will always be welcome Coach Hartel, as a founder/pioneer of american football in Great Britain I would like to thank you for your efforts in the 'early days'. It's a shame there aren't more people like you in the sport over here.