Rams appoint new Senior Head Coach

Thu Feb 26 2015

The club are pleased to announce that former Rams player and Junior coach, David Pawson has agreed to take over the role of Senior Head Coach on a permanent basis.

Pawson, 50, is currently the Offensive Coordinator at the Bradford Bears and has enjoyed a career spanning 29 years. He originally joined the Rams in 1992 and played Offensive Tackle, Tight End and was also the teams’ Kicker and Punter. He was part of the 2002 Yorkshire Rams that reached the Division 2 Playoff final only to be narrowly beaten, 17-14, by the Norwich Devils at the Don Valley Stadium.

Rams v Devils (2002)

Coach Pawson has also played for the Leeds Cobras, Manchester Falcons and a stint in Harrogate. As the Rams Junior coach, he helped form the team and guided them to two national finals and four BritBowl games.

Ram’s General Manager, Adam Cowley had the following to say on the appointment: “I am very pleased with the announcement of Dave as Head Coach. It’s added some much needed stability to the teams’ coaching staff. Having spoken with him back and forth over the last couple of weeks, I’m impressed with his coaching credentials and I’m looking forward to working with him. He is yet more proof that the club is building the foundations to be more successful in the future.”

We interviewed Coach Pawson to find out his plans for this season and the future:

What should we expect from you as Head Coach? Focus and determination to develop the players and coaches to reach their full potential. There have been a lot of changes since the end of last season, this year we need to stabilise what we have and set the foundation for the years to come.

What do you expect from the players? Commitment, dedication to the team and belief in their ability. We also need them to buy into the direction that the team is going in, over the next few years.

What got you interested in becoming the Rams Head Coach? The chance to return home, so to speak, and coach the only senior team I would be interested in. I first kitted up for the Rams in 1992, before some of the current team were born, so it really is a home coming for me.

How do you see 2015 going for the Rams? It is a year of change in so many ways. The team needs to enter the 2015 season as every other team should, with the determination to win their division and make the playoffs. Everything that the coaches and the team do will be with that in mind, there is a sense of realism of what can be achieved but we have to aim high or else there is no point being in the division.

What do you think to the new NFC Premier structure? It is going to make some really competitive games. There will be no easy games or weeks where you can relax your guard, this will be football as it should be.

And just for fun…

Which NFL team do you follow? Dallas Cowboys, although I tend to follow more college, Auburn Tigers in particular.

What is your greatest NFL memory? The 90’s Cowboys winning Superbowls.

Who is your favourite player? Present day, Cam Newton. All-time, Emmett Smith

And finally, any inspirational quote that you particularly like? “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re probably right”

The Rams would like to thank Dom Ioanna for stepping in as Interim Head Coach and are happy to announce that he will be staying in the coaching team.