Mons Knights

The Mons Knights are an American football team based in Mons, Belgium. The team and organization was created in 2012, under the name "Sharks",{{Cite web |title=Braine-le-Comte Sharks |url=https://www.europlayers.com/ViewProfileTeam.aspx?ProfileId=48037 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Europlayers}} in Braine-le-Comte, Belgium. In 2015, and after an undefeated championship season in Division 3, the organization decided to relocate itself and move to Mons. This was a strategic and beneficial choice since Mons is one of the biggest cities in Belgium. With this move we had the opportunity to recruit more players and have more visibility. After the move, the organization changed of name from "BLC Sharks" to "Knights Mons". The new name of the organization is a tribute to Saint-Georges, hero of the city of Mons and one of the main characters of the folklore and history of the city. The spear, that you can find in the club logo, is also a main part of the culture since the Dragon was slain by Saint-Georges with the spear. Currently the Knights Mons play in the National League (Division 2) of the Belgium American Football League (BAFL). The team is growing as desired since the Knights Mons won the Division 3 Championship in the 2017-2018 season and finished at a deserved third place in Division 2 during the 2018-2019 season. This season the Knights will try to maintain their level and hope to finish the 2019-2020 season with a better standing than the previous one.

• Early Years 2012-2015: The initial years saw the Mons Knights focusing on recruitment and training, participating in friendly matches and local tournaments to gain experience.
• 2017-2020: With the arrival of new American coaches, Nick Granado ,Justin Cox and Pat Lockhart the team embarked on a new phase of strategic game planning. This shift resulted in a remarkable turnaround, as the team went from a winless season in Division 3 to undefeated seasons and promotion to Division 2 and finishing in the top 3 of division 2. This year also marked the team's first ventures into youth development, with the establishment of U19 and U16 teams through a collaboration with the Charleroi Coal Miners.
• 2020-2022 The post COVID rebuild: Like many sports across the world, American football was highly impacted by the COVID-19.{{Cite journal |last1=Wong |first1=Ashley Ying-Ying |last2=Ling |first2=Samuel Ka-Kin |last3=Louie |first3=Lobo Hung-Tak |last4=Law |first4=George Ying-Kan |last5=So |first5=Raymond Chi-Hung |last6=Lee |first6=Daniel Chi-Wo |last7=Yau |first7=Forrest Chung-Fai |last8=Yung |first8=Patrick Shu-Hang |date=2020-07-28 |title=Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports and exercise |journal=Asia-Pacific Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation and Technology |volume=22 |pages=39–44 |doi=10.1016/j.asmart.2020.07.006 |issn=2214-6873 |pmc=7386263 |pmid=32821648}} The Mons Knights had to rebuild a complete new team from a depleted base of 11 players . This was done under the leadership of new head coach James Wellington. Coach Wellington brought in former NCAA Div 1 players DA Aquino and Jason Neago to help develop and coach. this endeavor led to the Mons Knights' first title in the U20 Categorize in 2023.
• 2022-2024: As of 2022 defensive coordinator DA Aquino took on the head coach position{{Cite web |date=2022-11-06 |title=Foot US: l'Américain Dylan Aquino est le nouvel entraîneur des Knights de Mons (vidéo) |url=https://www.sudinfo.be/id569226/article/2022-11-06/foot-us-lamericain-dylan-aquino-est-le-nouvel-entraineur-des-knights-de-mons?utm_campaign=pushs |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=sudinfo.be |language=fr}} with the clear mandate from the club president to build a successful program development, based off Coach Aquino's NCAA experience at the UCLA Bruins.{{Cite web |last=Hodges |first=Jim |date=1996-10-25 |title=Aquino Suffers Recurrence of Illness |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-25-sp-57701-story.html |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He brought on James Mathews as defensive coordinator
• League Participation: By 2013, the Knights had joined the Belgian American Football League (BAFL), where they began competing more formally.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} They brought more strategic approach as of 2017{{Who|date=January 2025}}

• Fabrice Zoppe : Starting Quarterback of the 2024 Season he led the Knights to the Belgian Bowl Victory and with a 102 points scored in the regular season he was the leading scorer in the BAFL for 2024{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
• Mael Ikolo:Young defensive lineman who was one of the youngest players allowed to play in the Senior division having played his first game at age 15. He is currently a member of the Junior Belgian National Team{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

• Head Coach: Andy Brutyn has been the head coach of the Mons Knights since 2024, bringing extensive experience and a strategic approach to the team.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
• Assistant Coaches: The coaching staff includes DA Aquino as technical advisor , Fabrice Zoppe as Quarterback coach, Olivier Pierrot as Defensive coordinator Fred Meysman as Line coach, contributing to different aspects of the team's performance.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

A detailed breakdown of the Mons Knights' performance over the seasons can be found below:

• 2018: BAFL Div III Champions
• 2019: BAFL Div II Third Place{{Cite web |date=2021-01-25 |title=Les Knights Mons misent sur la jeunesse {{!}} Tele MB |url=https://www.telemb.be/sports/les-knights-mons-misent-sur-la-jeunesse/27856 |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=www.telemb.be |language=fr}}
• 2023: LFFA U20 Champions
• 2023: BAFL Vice Champions{{Cite web |date=2023-06-18 |title=Finale loupée pour les Knights, battus par Ostende (0-27) {{!}} Tele MB |url=https://www.telemb.be/sports/finale-loupee-pour-les-knights-battus-par-ostende-0-27/32922 |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=www.telemb.be |language=fr}}
• 2024: BAFL U17 Champions{{Cite news |last=Sudinfo |date=2 June 2024 |title=Un premier titre de champion de Belgique en U17 |url=https://www.sudinfo.be/id843265/article/2024-06-02/un-premier-titre-de-champion-de-belgique-en-u17 |work=SudInfo |pages=1}}
• 2024: Belgian Bowl Champions{{Cite news |last=Grégory |first=Lefrancq |date=30 June 2024 |title=Foot US – Les Knights de Mons sur le toit de la Belgique : " Nous avons toujours su rebondir après les défaites ! " (+ PHOTOS & VIDÉOS) |url=https://www.sudinfo.be/id853797/article/2024-06-30/foot-us-les-knights-de-mons-sur-le-toit-de-la-belgique-nous-avons-toujours-su |work=SudInfo Sport |pages=1}}

In 2023 The Mons Knights developed a partnership with NFL Veteran George Teague which led to the development of the Teague's Take Camp. This is non profit football camp that aims at developing European Football players with an NFL veteran player.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

• [https://www.knights-mons.com/ Official Website]
• [https://www.facebook.com/Knightsmons Facebook] [https://www.instagram.com/knights.mons/ Instagram]
• [https://europlayers.com/ViewProfileTeam.aspx?ProfileId=68396 Europlayers]
• [https://www.sudinfo.be/id853797/article/2024-06-30/foot-us-les-knights-de-mons-sur-le-toit-de-la-belgique-nous-avons-toujours-su Foot US – Les Knights de Mons sur le toit de la Belgique : « Nous avons toujours su rebondir après les défaites ! » (+ PHOTOS & VIDÉOS)]
• FOOT US - Les Knights de Mons filent en finale du championnat belge (French){{Cite news |last=Bessière |first=Bessière |date=17 June 2024 |title="FOOT US - Les Knights de Mons filent en finale du championnat belge" |url=https://www.telemb.be/sports/foot-us-les-knights-de-mons-filent-en-finale-du-championnat-belge/35389 |work=TELE MB |pages=1}}

{{Belgian Football League|state=expanded}}

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Category:American football teams in Belgium