Parkview High Alumni Coach Team in Germany

Parkview High graduate Micheil Hill is making a name for himself as coach of a German American football team, the Marburg Mercenaries. Together with head coach Joe Sturdivant, also a Lilburn native and Parkview graduate, they are taking the team to the top. 

“We start training camp tonight,” Hill said. “We just got all of our Americans here today so it's a little hectic.” 

Only four out of the 72 players are from the U.S. Two of the American members of the team are from Florida, one is a Vanderbilt alumni, while another is a Pennsylvania native. American members usually stay for a year, then return home. The official league rules state that only two foreign players (non-European Union) can be on the field at the same time. 

“They just got done with their college teams and are trying to keep their career going,” Hill explained. 

“Joe played over here in 2010,” Hill said, “and this past year we both coached at Parkview. He got contacted for the head coaching job [in Marburg] and asked me if I would be his assistant coach.” 

This past Sunday, Micheil joined in a game when another member could not participate. He broke his leg ten minutes into the game. Although he is in a full leg cast, he will continue to coach from the sidelines and rocket the Mercenaries to success.

The team formed in 1991 and entered the competitive leagues the following year. They gradually made their way up in the leagues until becoming an official member of the German Football League. 

There are currently seven American football leagues in Germany, which functions the same as European soccer. If you finish last in one league, you move down to the next league. If you finish first, you move up. The Marburg Mercenaries are currently in the top league. They are one of sixteen southern teams. 

Hill arrived in Marburg, a college town, in early February. 

“It's fun,” Hill reflected, “and not as different from America as I thought it would be.” He is learning German and adapting easily to the culture. 

His father, Robert Hill, is excited about his son's endeavor.

"You could imagine our excitement and pride when he decided to venture outside of the US to follow a passion," Robert Hill said. "Plus, the opportunity to spend time in a professional setting with a person of Joe Sturdivant's character was an amazing positive as well."

Robert, a teacher and coach at Parkview High, coached at Parkview last year with his son.  He has had the opportunity to coach men like the Muyres brothers, Stinchcombs, Franceour, Brett Millican, Caleb King, Ainsley Battles, Buster Faulkner and the Witt brothers, as well as many others.  

"Now some of what we do at Parkview is being done on the other side of the world!" he said. "That's pretty neat!"

His son occassionally Google Chats with him during class time, giving the students a chance to ask him questions about life in Germany.

"They are very interested that someone would be able to use football to widen their global awareness," Robert said.  

You can stay connected to the Marburg Mercenaries by visiting their website.  (Allow Google to translate the page for you.)