Red Zone
07-18-2006, 12:11 PM
This comes from the Florence Morning News. Also word on an ownership situation.
Charlie Brown's schedule just got a little busier.
Brown, the former NFL standout with the Wasington Redskins in the 1980s, already owns a bridal shop in Bennettsville and coaches high school football in Savannah, Ga.
Brown added another title Monday -- coach of the Florence Phantoms.
"I'll be doing some double duty that's for sure," Brown said. "But this is what I love and this is my passion. I love to compete, and I love the challenge."
Brown, who also teaches weight training at Savannah High, said he commutes back and forth from Georgia once the season starts in February.
The former All-Pro wide receiver replaces Derric Coakley, who missed the last two games because of complications from a blood clot. Phantoms general manager Jack Bowman said Coakley's condition is improving and expects him to taking a coaching job in Michigan.
"Charlie is a great guy and great motivator," Bowman said. "He works hard with the players and his NFL connections should help us pull a player base in."
This is Brown's second attempt to coach indoor football. He was named coach of the Myrtle Beach Stingrays in 2003 but resigned before the season started because of a change in ownership. But Brown said he hopes things will be different this time around.
One thing different this time appears to be stable ownership. The Shannon family, who operates S&N Housing Center in Coward, purchased sole ownership of the club.
The Shannon family, along with the owners of the Augusta Spartans, purchased the club near the end of last season when Darrell Thompson gave up control.
"The owners are from Florence and that is a big difference," Brown said. "The Shannons have a great commitment to the city of Florence and want to produce a good football team here."
"We thought the owners in Augusta didn't have Florence's best interest at heart," Joey Shannon said. "We thought it would be better to keep things at home and market to our community."
Shannon said he has been doing that and regaining some trust from sponsors after problems last season. The Phantoms went 4-10 in their first season and also struggled with attendance and paying players.
"We already mended about 95 percent of those bridges so it is going along nicely," Shannon said.
Florence also announced the rest of its coaching staff for the season. Steve Batterton was retained from last year's staff and will remain the offensive coordinator.
Rick Ostrander, the defensive line and linebacker coach at West Florence, was named the Phantoms' defensive coordinator. Also, Edwin Bailey, a teammate of Brown's at South Carolina State and who played 11 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks, was named the team's offensive line coach and director of player development.
The club will release its schedule in October.
Charlie Brown's schedule just got a little busier.
Brown, the former NFL standout with the Wasington Redskins in the 1980s, already owns a bridal shop in Bennettsville and coaches high school football in Savannah, Ga.
Brown added another title Monday -- coach of the Florence Phantoms.
"I'll be doing some double duty that's for sure," Brown said. "But this is what I love and this is my passion. I love to compete, and I love the challenge."
Brown, who also teaches weight training at Savannah High, said he commutes back and forth from Georgia once the season starts in February.
The former All-Pro wide receiver replaces Derric Coakley, who missed the last two games because of complications from a blood clot. Phantoms general manager Jack Bowman said Coakley's condition is improving and expects him to taking a coaching job in Michigan.
"Charlie is a great guy and great motivator," Bowman said. "He works hard with the players and his NFL connections should help us pull a player base in."
This is Brown's second attempt to coach indoor football. He was named coach of the Myrtle Beach Stingrays in 2003 but resigned before the season started because of a change in ownership. But Brown said he hopes things will be different this time around.
One thing different this time appears to be stable ownership. The Shannon family, who operates S&N Housing Center in Coward, purchased sole ownership of the club.
The Shannon family, along with the owners of the Augusta Spartans, purchased the club near the end of last season when Darrell Thompson gave up control.
"The owners are from Florence and that is a big difference," Brown said. "The Shannons have a great commitment to the city of Florence and want to produce a good football team here."
"We thought the owners in Augusta didn't have Florence's best interest at heart," Joey Shannon said. "We thought it would be better to keep things at home and market to our community."
Shannon said he has been doing that and regaining some trust from sponsors after problems last season. The Phantoms went 4-10 in their first season and also struggled with attendance and paying players.
"We already mended about 95 percent of those bridges so it is going along nicely," Shannon said.
Florence also announced the rest of its coaching staff for the season. Steve Batterton was retained from last year's staff and will remain the offensive coordinator.
Rick Ostrander, the defensive line and linebacker coach at West Florence, was named the Phantoms' defensive coordinator. Also, Edwin Bailey, a teammate of Brown's at South Carolina State and who played 11 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks, was named the team's offensive line coach and director of player development.
The club will release its schedule in October.