St Louis Battlehawks coaching tree reshaped as Anthony Becht debuts with Orlando in season opener
st louis battlehawks ties are front and center as Anthony Becht, formerly the leader in St. Louis, prepares to coach the Orlando Storm in their first game as a franchise on Sunday night at 8: 00 PM ET. The matchup, set in Arlington, Texas, pits Orlando against the Columbus Aviators in a season-opening clash that also marks the first-ever game for both expansion teams. The immediate why: Becht’s debut and the familiar staff he brought with him have turned this opener into an early measuring stick for how quickly Orlando can stabilize in year one.
What is happening Sunday night, and why it matters now
At 8: 00 PM ET on Sunday, Orlando and Columbus meet in a game framed as history for both franchises, with the Aviators and the Storm stepping onto the field for the first time. Orlando enters with a settled quarterback decision: Jack Plummer won the job over Dorian Thompson-Robinson during what was described as training camp’s most competitive quarterback battle.
Plummer, listed at 6-foot-5, spent the past two seasons with the Carolina Panthers after finishing his collegiate career at Louisville. He has been described as a quarterback who excels at navigating the pocket, protecting the football, and getting the ball out quickly to avoid pressure. Orlando’s expected identity, as described ahead of kickoff, is an aggressive offense built around a strong rushing attack that opens up the passing game.
Coaching moves keep st louis battlehawks fingerprints on Orlando
Becht’s arrival in Orlando comes with clear continuity. He added defensive coordinator Donnie Abraham and co-offensive coordinator Marc Colombo to his staff, and he also brought over Martin Bayless (special teams/defensive backs) and La’Roi Glover (defensive line) from last year’s St. Louis coaching staff.
The result is an expansion team that, at least on the sideline, won’t feel like a blank slate. Becht is described as offensive-minded and brings spring football experience and a track record of winning, factors that shape expectations heading into Week One.
Orlando’s personnel intrigue goes beyond the staff. Jashaun Corbin highlights the backfield after leading the UFL with 514 rushing yards. If Orlando establishes the run early, the pre-kickoff view is that Plummer should be able to settle in, with KJ Hamler, Chris Rowland, and Aron Cruickshank identified as key weapons to watch.
Columbus counters with a debut head coach and an unsettled quarterback call
Across the field, Columbus begins its own era under NFL veteran and Columbus legend Ted Ginn Jr., who will make his head coaching debut Sunday night. Ginn Jr. comes from what is described as a strong coaching lineage: his father, Ted Ginn Sr., is a highly successful high school head coach with multiple state championships. Ginn Jr. has said he feels like he’s been both coached and a coach his entire life, and he has reassured the media that he’s ready for his first opportunity and is excited to lead in Columbus.
Ginn Jr. also assembled an experienced staff. Todd Haley serves as offensive coordinator, while Captain Munnerlyn takes over as defensive coordinator. Haley is a former NFL head coach. Munnerlyn, after a 10-year NFL career, will make his debut calling plays, and his defense has been described as scrappy, capable of making big plays but also prone to giving them up.
At quarterback, Columbus remains less defined. Days out from kickoff, many expect Jalan McClendon to start, though Ginn Jr. has not officially named a QB1. There have also been strong murmurs out of camp that Aidan Sayin impressed and could see time in Week One.
Quick context
This is a first-of-its-kind night for both clubs: the Aviators and the Storm are expansion teams meeting in their first game of the season and the first in franchise history. The opener also doubles as the first game for Becht with Orlando and the first head coaching game for Ginn Jr. with Columbus.
What’s next after the opening kickoff
The immediate next development is how quickly Orlando’s run-first vision takes shape under Becht and whether Plummer’s quick-decision profile holds up once the game turns live at 8: 00 PM ET Sunday. On the other sideline, Columbus’ next question is clarity at quarterback and whether Munnerlyn’s defense can create the kind of single-play swing that changes a debut-night outcome. For followers tracking the st louis battlehawks orbit, the clearest storyline is already set: Becht’s first real test with his reassembled staff begins now, with results that will be visible immediately in Orlando’s first-ever snap.
