Karl Walkinshaw

Karl Walkinshaw

Playing Career

Karl has been involved in American Football since 1987 and had a long playing career with a number of different teams including St Albans Kestrels, South Herts Seminoles, Watford Cheetahs, Luton Flyers, London Capitals and Nottingham Caesars. He has Coached and Played for Great Britain Junior, University and Senior sides and was fortunate enough to secure a scholarship through the Sports Scholarship Foundation to play NCAA Football in the United States for Lakeland College before returning to the UK to play senior football.

Coaching Career

Karl has been the Defensive Co-Ordinator of the NTU Renegades since the inception of the team in 2009/10. Since that time the team has had a regular season record of 47 wins, 10 losses and 1 draw and has made the playoffs in all but one of those seasons.

In 2014/15 the NTU Renegades conceded only 18 points over an eight game regular season making it the second ranked defense in the BUCS British University American Football League.

In both 2011 and 2012 the NTU Renegades secured semi-final appearances in the BUAFL Plate Semi-Final Game and were finally crowned BUCS Plate Champions in 2013 following a great performance in the final at the John Charles Stadium in Leeds.

Karl has also been a Player/Coach for the senior team Nottingham Caesars and continues to make an impact on senior American Football.

In April 2013, Karl was fortunate enough to be offered a last minute Assistant Coaching spot with the Great Britain American Football University side and travelled to Uppsala, Sweden to assist in the international win over the Swedish University National Team.

Qualifications and Coaching Development

Karl is a Level 2 Qualified American Football Coach and an Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5 Certified Mentor and Coach.

Karl is also an NLP Master Practitioner and Trainer and has a special interest in the psychology of sport including motivation, resilience and the psychology of winning.

Karl continues to develop his coaching skills through regular attendance at the British American Football Coaching Association Convention and traveling to Buffalo, New York to the NFL Buffalo Bills training camp in 2014.