EMORY, Va. – Eric Tilson, a 2011 Emory & Henry College graduate and former assistant football coach, has been selected to be a player-coach for A.F.C. Paderborn Dolphins of Germany's American Football League. Tilson will be the center on the offensive line and also coach the offensive linemen.

"This is a chance of a lifetime to play professional football," said Tilson. "As a kid you want to grow up to play for somebody like the Green Bay Packers, but I am still happy to call myself a professional athlete."

The Paderborn Dolphins, a member of Germany's American Football Third Division, are head coached by William Miller. Miller served as Emory & Henry's defensive line and strength & conditioning coach from 2006-08.

"This is a terrific opportunity for Eric," said E&H Head Coach Don Montgomery. "He was one of the defining elements of our football program and was a four-year starter and co-captain for us. His incredible work ethic is going to make him a great coach and there will be a lot of guys that will learn a lot about football from him. Eric will do a great job on the field as well, he's still not done with that yet."

American football is starting to catch on in Europe, but is mostly played on a semi-professional basis. The teams have several American players on their rosters, but they're mostly made up of German nationals from the community. "It's like the book Playing for Pizza by John Grisham," Tilson noted. "The Germans play for the love of the game and not fame or money. It's definitely not as big as soccer, but they still love it."

Though Tilson will have to adjust to living in Germany and the German language and culture, Coach Miller won't be the only familiar thing about the Dolphins' football program. "They run the Tony Franklin System, which we put in this year at Emory," added Tilson. "I had a lot of fun coaching it this past fall and I can't wait to get to play in it this summer."

In addition to playing football, Tilson will be teaching at an English-speaking school during the week. The football season will run from April until October as the teams will play a 12-game schedule against other teams in Western Germany. Last season, Paderborn finished 7-5, good for third in the league.

"I hope to represent Emory & Henry College and the United States well," concluded Tilson. "I will definitely learn as much from them, seeing their humility and love of the game, as they will from me as their coach."

---E&H---