Former McMurry QB Neuman finds success as coach in Germany

It wasn’t Jordan Neuman’s intention during his record-setting career at McMurry to make his mark on the other side of the pond afterward. Blame, or credit, Braxton Shaver for that.

Shaver, one of the finest quarterbacks to ever wear the maroon and white, had been instrumental in recruiting Neuman to McMurry. During Neuman’s senior year, Shaver was playing European football in Paris. As he explained about his experiences in France, Neuman became enamored with the idea himself. While he didn’t follow Shaver to Paris, Neuman made an even bigger name for himself in Germany.

The year 2017 was one to remember as well as one for the record books for Schwabisch Hall. The Unicorns were unbeaten (17-0) and won German Bowl XXXIX, Germany’s version of the Super Bowl. It was Neuman’s first season as head coach. However, he points out, he had been well groomed for the position by German coaching legend Siegfried Gehrke.

“I had spent the last three years as offensive coordinator and the last three I was already going through a transition of taking over as head coach,” Neuman, 34, wrote in an email. “I got more and more responsibilities every year. This greatly prepared me.

“I knew we had a great team and great coaches. So, as long as we worked really hard, I knew the sky was the limit. But going 17-0 in my first year as head coach was obviously something very special.”

There have been so many “special” moments during his 12 years in Europe that Neuman has no plans to return to the states any time soon. This doesn’t mean he isn’t open to coaching American football. It means he doesn’t obsess about it. He is married to a German woman and has two daughters.

“For the first four years after I was done playing (in Europe) it was a constant inner struggle about how and when I would get back to the states and begin coaching,” Neuman said. “But in 2014, I just decided that I have a great family, I loved my job, and it was time I let that inner struggle of getting back to the states go. Never say never, but as of right now I don’t even give it a thought any more, which to be honest is a lot of stress off my shoulders.”

Neuman once coached European baseball. Now it is football fulltime. He finds that the Unicorns and spending family time is enough on his plate. After the season, he is busy recruiting German and American players who might be interested in taking the same plunge he did in May 2005.

Also, he started the first Football Academy in Germany and he is quarterbacks’ coach for the German National team, which has allowed him to travel to Japan, Poland and Austria. Additionally, he gives clinic speeches throughout the country.

So how good is German football?

“When you talk about the best teams the competition level has become very high,” Neuman said. “I had my German wide receiver (Moritz Bohringer) the first player drafted into the NFL directly from Europe. I had two other wide receivers get calls into NFL training camps for private workouts. All of my American import players were either in NFL camps, conference player of the year or played Division I.”

Football is growing internationally, and not just the type with the round ball. And Neuman is at the top of the food chain in Germany, and has been for years.

“I have been fortunate to win five championships in my time here,” said Neuman, who includes his two in Austria. “It’s been a great experience for me in Europe.”