The Black Panthers of Thonon, commonly referred to as Thonon Black Panthers, is a French American football club based in Thonon-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie) and founded in 1987 by Benoît Sirouet, Nicolas Schpoliansky and Frederic Mériguet.
Jérôme Garnier quickly joined the three founding members and became the first President of the Club.
The first Head Coach of the team was called Jolly Bruno, former player of Blue Angels of Joinville le Pont.
Now chaired by Benoît Sirouet, the club has led since 2017 by Fabien Ducousso also known as Coach Hippo.
Teams
The club has four different teams of American football and three flag football. The elite team in the first French division, the Diamond Helmet since 2005. The reserve is playing in the Romande League of American Football, the NSFL since 2011. Juniors, champions of France in 2011. Cadets since 2010. As three teams flag football (-15 years, -18 years, and +18 years).
Awards
Seniors France's Championship Elite (Diamond Helmet) Champion (7): 2013, 2014, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 Vice Champion (7): 2007, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022 France's Second Division League (Golden Helmet) Champion (1): 2004 CEFL Bowl Champion (1): 2025 Finalist (2): 2023, 2026 EFL Bowl Champions (1): 2017 EFAF Cup Champions (1): 2013 Finalist (1): 2009
Juniors Junior Championship of France Champion ** (3): 2004, 2011, 2012
Vice Champion ** (3): 2006, 2007 and 2008
Flag Championship of France 16 Champion (1): 2002 Vice Champion (2): 2008, 2009 France Championship -16 Champion (2): 2005, 2006 Vice Champion (1): 2008 Regional Championship 16 Champion (2): 2008, 2009 Vice Champion (1): 2011 Regional Championship -16 Champion (5): 1998, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2006 Vice Champion (1): 2009, 2011
Season by season Season Division Results 1990 D3 Semi-finalist 1991 D2 Regular season 1992 D2 Regular season 1993 D2 Regular season 1994 D2 Regular season 1995 D2 Regular season 1996 D2 Regular season 1997 D2 Demi-finaliste Season Division Results 1998 D1 1/4 finalist 1999 D1 Semi-finalist 2000 D1 Semi-finalist 2001 D1 1/4 finalist 2002 D1 Regular season 2003 D2 Semi-finalist 2004 D2 Champion 2005 D1 Regular season Season Division Results 2006 D1 Regular season 2007 D1 Finalist 2008 D1 Semi-finalist 2009 D1 Finalist 2010 D1 Semi-finalist 2011 D1 Regular season 2012 D1 Finalist 2013 D1 Champion Season Division Results 2014 D1 Champion 2015 D1 Finalist 2016 D1 Regular season 2017 D1 Finalist 2018 D1 Finalist 2019 D1 Champion
Personalities linked to the club
Staff
Benoit Sirouet Founder, former player and current president Nicolas Schpoliansky Founder Frederic Mériguet Founder Jérôme Garnier Former President Jolly Bruno (player) Former Head Coach Larry Legault Head Coach, Team HC France, former HC of Gaiters of Bishop's
Notable players Damon Thomas Former player, WR Wayne State Wildcats, Buffalo Bills Dimitri Kiernan player, former coach (Carabins CIS ) Tory Cooper RB, Citadel Athletics NCAA D-1 AA Jason Jackson (player) Patrick Hall (player) RB Stephan Neville RB (Stonehill College NCAA DII) Baylen Laury RB Maxime Sprauel Player (ex Carabins, CIS, ) Alex Sy Former player (ex Carabins, CIS, ) Bastien Pereira Player (future Carabins, CIS, ) Fred Wells Jr Former player, RB / WR (Northern Michigan University, NCAA D1-AA) Jimmie Russell Former player, QB (Bethune-Cookman University NCAA D1-AA) Brandon Minch Former player, DE / FB (Wesleyan University, NCAA DIII) Chris Dolan, United States Former Player, OL/DL University of Maryland NCAA- D1, John Allanach, Canada Head Coach, former player LB (Mount Allison Mounties, CIS, ) Sundee Jones, Canada Head Coach, former player RB (Mount Allison Mounties, CIS, )
Media
The Black Panthers of Thonon-les-Bains were the first in France to broadcast all of their regular season games live on the Internet. The BPWEBTV created in 2010 was well-received, and broadened for the 2011 season.
References
External links club's official website in french club's official website in english Web TV