ELITE PROSPECT ACADEMY
Elite Prospect Academy is more than just football—it's a movement dedicated to developing the next generation of European athletes. We create opportunities for young players (ages 15–19) to grow their skills, showcase their talent, and compete against the best competition globally. The hope is that players will get the chance to play at the next level be it college, semi-professional or professional. Even though we are based in Denmark, we have a multi-national roster representing 8 different countries. Whether you're a player, parent, coach, or fan—there’s a place for you to at Elite Prospect Academy. #BeELITE.
ABOUT US
Elite Prospect Academy was founded in the fall of 2022. We began holding camps to bridge the gap between raw talent and real opportunity. Our program partnered with Svendborg Efterskole in Svendborg Denmark. We have continued this partnership to this day. The Svendborg Efterskole American Football program exposes new players to the sport and allows us to guide youth athletes on and off the field, focusing on personal development, athletic excellence, and exposure to college and career pathways in American football. Our focus is to play international games against clubs, academies, and national teams. Elite Prospect Academy played its first game in September of 2023. Since then, we have played games in the UK, Iceland, the Netherlands, the U.S., Hungary, Denmark and Germany.
While we do have a core group of players, we hold camps throughout the year in order to prepare for upcoming games. The camps are primarily for training, development, and the chance for new players to join program. Our season typically begins in September and ends in May.
In addition to games and camps, Elite Prospect Academy provide training, mentorship, specialty camps, and educational resources that prepare young athletes for the next level—whether that's college, semi-pro, or life after the game.
Our Core Values:
  • TOGTHER - We strive on building community and unity through focusing on the task at hand.
  • FAMILY - We are bonded, in different environments, by the fact that we play the sport we love.
  • HARD WORK - We discipline our minds to overcome comfort, in order to reach an elite level of performance.
  • TRUST - We rely on each other to do our respective jobs, so that we are successful on and off the field.
COACHES
Desi O. Barbour, Ph.D. - Director & Head Coach
Desi is a teacher and football coach from San Jose, California by way of Jackson, Tennessee. He originally came to Denmark on a player contract with the Kronborg Knights in Helsingør, Denmark in 2004. He has played for several clubs in Denmark over a span of 10 years, while teaching back in California during the off-seasons. He permanently moved to Denmark in 2014, where he continued to stay active coaching and teaching in Europe. In 2015, Desi moved back to California, taking a job as a Principal and Director of Inmate Education for the Solano County Jails and Probation Departments. He moved back to Denmark in 2018, where he began teaching at Svendborg Efterskole and took over their American football program. Desi founded Elite Prospect Academy along with Dee Maggitt in 2022. The purpose was to pipeline Danish athletes to American colleges through camp preparation and combine drills. It eventually evolved to a traveling American football club, where the focus is to give players the opportunity to play the best competition possible in order to get game film. Despite resistance from the Danish American Football Federation, Elite Prospect Academy played its first game in Iceland in September of 2023. Since then, the club has competed in 5 different countries and has players from several different countries. Desi continues to teach, coach and conduct camps throughout Europe.
Desi played football in high school at Leland High School in San Jose, California but finished his high school career at Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tennessee. He began his college career at San Jose City College, where he was an All-Conference Defensive Back. After a brief stint at San Jose State University, he transferred and finished his college career at the University of California- Davis where started at cornerback. He played 2 years of semi-professional and Indoor football before playing in Denmark. Desi has a bachelor’s degree in economics, from UC Davis, a Master’s Degree in Education with a California Teaching credential and a Ph.D in Educational Leadership. Desi is also credentialed to teach in the country of Denmark.
Brendan Greene-Anderson - Asst. Head Coach
Brendan has over 12 years of coaching and playing experience. He is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA. He originally came to Denmark on a student visa but since then has served as the Head Coach of the Svendborg Admirals Senior team. He worked with the youth in different organizations in the Svendborg Kommune. Brendan also served as the Defensive Line Coach for the Triangle Razorbacks Senior Team in Vejle Denmark. Brendan has conducted numerous developmental camps throughout Denmark and Northern Germany. He currently serves as the Assistant Head Coach and coaches the Offensive and Defensive Line for Elite Prospect Academy. Brendan is a graduate of Central York High School, where he was a 3-year starter on the offensive and defensive line.
ELITE PLAYERS ON THE MOVE
LAURITS FUCHS NIELSEN
OFFERED AND COMMITTED TO PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY
VICTOR NORDFOLK
OFFERED AND COMMITTED TO PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY
UPCOMING EVENTS
Elite Prospect Academy (U18) vs. South Coast Crusaders Academy (U18)
Saturday March 14, 2026; Kickoff kl. 1pm - local time
Tilsley Park, Abingdon UK
HAMBURG PROSPECT CAMP - FOR COLLEGE PROSPECTS
This camp is designed for players that have the aspirations of playing college football. There will be 3 college coaches as well as other coaches participating in the camp. The college coaches are looking to make offers to potential college prospects in classes of 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.

The camp will be Saturday February 28 - Sunday March 1, 2026. Check in Saturday at kl. 10
Saturday hours (10.00 - 16.00)
Sunday hours (9.00 - 15.00)

Location: TSG Swans Field
Ladenbeker Weg 15,
21033 Hamburg, Germany

REGISTER AT: https://buy.stripe.com/6oU5kD6TIeaidayf5e3ks00

Meet the Coaches:
JOHN PEARCE –
VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
The 2023 season marks John Pearce's second season as the Defensive Line and Special Teams Coordinator for the Virginia State University Football team after joining the Trojan family in 2022.

In his first season guiding the defensive line and special teams units, the Trojans finished top five in the conference with 21 sacks and Pearce coached an All-CIAA defensive lineman (Marquel Pillow-Smiley). On special teams, Virginia State finished first in the conference in punt return yards and fifth in kick return yards.

Prior to arriving at Virginia State, Coach Pearce served eight seasons as the head football coach at Sul Ross State University. He was selected as a member of the NCAA South RAC Committee in 2019-2022 and will also serve on the NCAA Football Rules Committees in 2020-2022. Pearce also is a longstanding member of the AFCA and THSCA Association.

Coach Pearce is a recipient of the 2014-2015 Academic Excellence in Coaching at Sul Ross. He has coached six ASC Academic All-Conference Players, 36 ASC All-Conference players, one All-American, and one All-South Region player.

Coach Pearce and his former student-athletes were active in the Alpine community through community service efforts. The team took part in the Kiwanis Highway Clean Up, where student-athletes would help the city 'Keep Texas Beautiful'. Student-athletes helped set up fundraiser events for the Alpine Public Library and the Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend.

In his third year as head coach, Pearce guided the Lobos to their first winning season in ten years. The Lobos finished the 2016 season with a 6-4 mark, going 4-2 against ASC competition.

Sul Ross finished the 2016 season third in the ASC, which was their highest finish since 2012 when they placed fourth. It is also their second-highest finish after tying Hardin-Simmons for first place in 1996.

Coach Pearce was recognized as the 2016 ASC Coach of the Year by the American Southwest Conference.

Coach Pearce has enjoyed coaching in the state of Texas for the past 18 years. Before taking over the reigns at Sul Ross, he served on the staff at Blinn College. Prior to Blinn, Pearce coached nine years at Prairie View A&M University, including two years as the defensive coordinator. He has also coached at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., Bowie State University, Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV, and Norfolk State University.

A 1991 graduate of the University of Delaware, majoring in health and physical education, Pearce received a master’s degree in secondary education from Bowie State.

Coach Pearce and his wife, Samantha Krumpe, have two sons, Max and Calvin. Max is a graduate of University of Texas and currently resides in Austin, Texas. Calvin is a graduate of University of Minnesota at Morris and is currently a football graduate assistant for Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, in Terre Haute, Indiana.
THOMAS MOSBY –
PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY
Thomas Mosby joined the PLU coaching staff prior to the 2024 season as a running backs coach.
Mosby comes to Luteville with over three decades of coaching experience. Mosby has served as head football coach at both North Mason High School and Liberty High School, while serving as an assistant coach at Mount Si High School, Nathan Hale High School, and Pullman High School.
Mosby’s experience spans the globe, serving as head coach for the Limhamm Griffins from Malmo, Sweden in the European League of American Football while also running a skills camp in Sweden. Mosby has experience at the collegiate level as a graduate assistant at Washington State.
Mosby earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from Western Washington University before earning a master’s degree and doctoral degree in education from Washington State University.
TRACEY REYNOLDS –
GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
Tracey Reynolds joined the George Fox coaching staff in 2025, serving as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.
Reynolds began his coaching career at Stadium High School in Tacoma. In the spring of 2024 Reynolds joined the staff at Pacific Lutheran University as an assistant WR coach and was promoted to WR coach for the 2024 season, mentoring two All-Northwest Conference selections in Thor Stepina and Connor Meade. Reynolds followed Spencer Crace to Newberg after one season for the Lutes.
Reynolds, born in Vancouver, Canada, moved to Tacoma, Washington, and played his high school football at Lakes High School in Lakewood (WA). He began his collegiate career at Idaho State University, spending three seasons with the Bengals before transferring to Adams State University (CO), where he completed his playing career and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sports and Recreation Management and a Master’s degree in Kinesiology and Sports Administration.
CONTACT US
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