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Venom Announce Brian Smith as Interim Head Coach

May 10, 2010 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Wenatchee Valley Venom News Release


(Wenatchee, WA) May 10, 2010 - The Wenatchee Valley Venom Professional Indoor Football Team of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) has relieved Keith Evans as Assistant General Manager and Head Coach effective immediately. Brian Smith, the Venom's Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, and Special Teams Coach will assume the position of Interim Head Coach for the next two weeks and will be considered for the Head Coach position along with a number of other candidates who have submitted applications.

"We thank Keith Evans for the work he did in helping to bring professional indoor football to the Wenatchee Valley," says Venom co-owner and General Manager Mark Helm. "However, it has become apparent to Venom management and the ownership group that a change at the head coaching position was necessary for our organization to get to that next level, both on and off the field. We are excited to have Coach Brian Smith guide our team while we review our options. His character, integrity, and passion for the game of football have already started to motivate and prepare our players for the game against the San Jose Wolves this week."

Following a tough 52-48 loss to the Wasilla Arctic Predators in Alaska last Saturday that included a potential game-winning touchdown pass on the last play of the game called back due to a penalty, the Venom are re-grouping for another road trip to San Jose on May 15 before starting a 4-game home stand on May 22 at Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee. Despite a 2-5 record, the Venom are only two plays away (a fourth down defensive stop in overtime in Wyoming and a fourth down defensive stop or no penalty on winning touchdown in Wasilla) from a 4-3 record and have five (5) of the remaining seven (7) games at home.

So, with Coach Brian Smith at the helm, optimism and a renewed confidence is in the air for the Venom. Coach Smith starred at Curtis High School in Tacoma winning two Washington State football championships and played linebacker at Boise State University from 1991-1995. Following graduation from Boise State with a degree in psychology, Coach Smith played professionally for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League and four years of professional arena football. His coaching credentials started in 2007 and included stints with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League and Boise Burn and Central Valley Coyotes of the Arena Football 2 League prior to joining the Venom this season.

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