ST. LOUIS—When the St. Louis Battlehawks kick off the 2026 United Football League season in March, the team will be led by a new head coach.

Anthony Becht, who had a 22-8 record in three seasons in charge, is leaving St. Louis for the Orlando Storm, a new club borne out of the relocation of several league franchises after last season. Orlando hosted an XFL franchise in 2023, prior to that spring league’s merger with the USFL.

“Today, I am filled with mixed emotions as I leave a city and team that I love—the St. Louis Battlehawks—to take on the exciting challenge of building a new team—the Orlando Storm,” said Becht in a statement. “I look forward to returning to my home state of the last 21 years, where I played three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and welcome the task ahead in adding to the great tradition of football in the Sunshine State. I also want to thank Battlehawks Nation for all of their support. You will forever be in my heart.”

“We needed someone who had the expertise to build a new franchise like the Orlando Storm from the ground up and what better person to do that than Anthony Becht,” said UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon in the same statement. “UFL Co-owner Mike Repole and I have called on Anthony to take up this challenge to help ensure the long-term success of the league.

In a Zoom call with reporters, Becht was effusive in his praise for his time in St. Louis, and his hopes for replicating his success here in Orlando, both on the field and off, where he frequently engaged with fans on social media and is a full-time ambassador. He also offered some reassurance to St. Louis fans.

“They should feel good about the commitment of the league for that city. Been some changes in other cities, and they obviously are the pinnacle of the league. And now it’s my job to make this Orlando franchise a pinnacle as well,” he said.

Brandon, also meeting with reporters Tuesday said news of the next St. Louis coach, while not ready for an announcement, “will excite the fan base.”

“We’re excited about what we have built in St. Louis and AB’s (Anthony Becht) been a massive part of that. We’re gonna continue the tradition. So, news will be on its way as it presents itself, but I think you’ll be very pleased.”  

The Battlehawks have led spring football in attendance annually since 2020, as other markets have struggled to fill stadiums and replicate the gameday environment at The Dome at America’s Center.

But attendance numbers here have shown signs of slippage. In 2023, an average of 35,104 fans showed up for games in St. Louis when the season began in February shortly after the conclusion of the NFL season. In 2024, after the XFL merged with the USFL, the season began in late March, the Battlehawks averaged 34,365. With a similar schedule, further away from the NFL season and more conflicts with Cardinals, Blues and City SC contests the avrage dropped to 29.537 fans.

It’s been an offseason full of change for the UFL, as Repole, who lives in the Orlando market, has come on board as a co-owner of the league and presided over the relocation of teams to Orlando, Louisville, Columbus, while moving to different venues in the Dallas-Arlington and Houston markets.

The common denominator there in all the moves is that teams will be playing in MLS stadiums. Only the Battlehawks and the Birmingham Stallions, who will be coached by former St. Louis quarterback AJ McCarron, will play in football-first venues in 2026.

“There’s a reason we draw 30 to 40,000 people in that building, and we want to amp that up again, and hopefully, whoever we bring in that standpoint, will have the same type of relationship that AB has had,” Brandon told reporters Tuesday. “But we’re excited what we’re doing in St. Louis, and that’s not gonna take a step back whatsoever.”