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 (player), former player of Blue Angels of Joinville le Pont.
Now chaired by Benoît Sirouet, the club has led since 2005 by Canadian Larry Legault, current head coach of the France national team.
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).
France's Championship Elite (Diamond Helmet)
Champion (2): 2013, 2014
Vice Champion (3): 2007, 2009, 2012, 2015
France's Second Division League (Golden Helmet)
Champion (1): 2004
EFAF Cup
Champions (1): 2013
Finalist (1): 2009
Junior Championship of France
Champion ** (3): 2004, 2011, 2012
Vice Champion ** (3): 2006, 2007 and 2008
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
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
Damon Thomas United States WR
Dimitri Kiernan France player, former coach (Carabins CIS Canada)
Tory Cooper United States RB
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 (Uni. of Maryland, NCAA- D1, Arena Football League, Arena Football League 2, National Indoor Football League)
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)
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.
