title: Thonon Black Panthers
text: # Thonon Black Panthers
  
  The Black Panthers of Thonon 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 (4): 2013, 2014, 2019, 2023
     * Vice Champion (3): 2007, 2009, 2012, 2015
  * France's Second Division League (Golden Helmet)
     * Champion (1): 2004
  * CEFL Bowl
     * Finalist (1): 2023
  * 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 France Founder, former player and current president
  * Nicolas Schpoliansky France Founder
  * Frederic Mériguet France Founder
  * Jérôme Garnier France Former President
  * Jolly Bruno (player) France Former Head Coach
  * Larry Legault Canada Head Coach, Team HC France, former HC of Gaiters of Bishop's
  
  ### Notable players
  
  * Damon Thomas United States Former player, WR Wayne State Wildcats, Buffalo Bills
  * Dimitri Kiernan France player, former coach (Carabins CIS Canada)
  * Tory Cooper United States RB, Citadel Athletics NCAA D-1 AA
  * Jason Jackson (player) United States
  * Patrick Hall (player) United States RB
  * Stephan Neville United States RB (Stonehill College NCAA DII)
  * Baylen Laury United States RB
  * Maxime Sprauel France Player (ex Carabins, CIS, Canada)
  * Alex Sy France Former player (ex Carabins, CIS, Canada)
  * Bastien Pereira France Player (future Carabins, CIS, Canada)
  * Fred Wells Jr United States Former player, RB / WR (Northern Michigan University, NCAA D1-AA)
  * Jimmie Russell United States Former player, QB (Bethune-Cookman University NCAA D1-AA)
  * Brandon Minch United States 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, Canada)
  * Sundee Jones, Canada Head Coach, former player RB (Mount Allison Mounties, CIS, Canada)
  
  ## 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.
  
  