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Erie RiverRats Name Steven G. Folmar as New Head Coach

September 2, 2008 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Erie Explosion News Release


(Erie, PA) - The Erie RiverRats of the American Indoor Football Association announced today that Steven G. Folmar has been named the team's new Head Coach and Director of Football Operations.

Folmar, a native of Meadville, PA, returns to the AIFA sidelines after a one-year hiatus from professional football. The 2009 season will be his third season as a Head Coach in the AIFA, formerly known as the AIFL. In 2006, Folmar led the Raleigh Rebels to an 8-6 record and the Southern Conference championship game. In 2007, he came back North to coach the Johnstown Riverhawks, where he led the team to a 3-4 record before resigning due to organizational issues which ultimately led to the franchise's demise.

"Steven G. has the range of football experience we were looking for. At the very beginning of the search, we targeted candidates who had served as a head coach before, had a proven network of pro and college-level contacts, were familiar with the indoor game, and were able to spend time in the local Erie community. In total, we received about 20 inquiries, interviewed four of them at length, and we were lucky to end up with our top candidate from our list." commented team president Jeff Hauser. "Our goal for the 2009 season is to build upon our success last season under Shawn Liotta, and win an AIFA championship. Steven G. clearly wants and is prepared for the challenge, and I couldn't be more excited."

Folmar started his coaching career at Lock Haven University as a video assistant and a student assistant coach. He was introduced to indoor football in 2000 as a football operations intern for the Buffalo Destroyers of the AFL, and was promoted to assistant coach halfway through the season. In 2001, he joined the coaching staff of Iowa Wesleyan College as their Defensive Backs coach.

In 2002, Folmar joined the staff of the Bakersfield Blitz of af2. His first assignment was serving as Linebackers/Running Backs coach for two years, with the Blitz winning the Western Division title in 2002. He was promoted to Director of Football Operations and Special Teams coordinator in 2004, and during that season, Bakersfield won its second Western Division title. The following year, Folmar became the Defensive Coordinator for the Central Valley Coyotes (Fresno, CA) of af2, serving under Fred Biletnikoff Jr., where he was instrumental in helping the team improve from 3-13 to 8-8, including a season sweep of his former team, the Bakersfield Blitz. Folmar's defense finished in the top four in the league in sacks, fumble recoveries, interceptions, and interception returns for touchdowns.

Folmar became a Head Coach for the first time with the Raleigh Rebels in 2006. With the Rebels, he coached the league's defensive player of the year, and his defense led the league in sacks and fumble recoveries. While also calling his own offensive plays, Raleigh was one of the top scoring teams in the league, featuring the league's leading receiver and one of the league's leading passers.

When the team's ownership changed hands, Folmar moved to Johnstown to join the Riverhawks' organization where he coached several current members of the Erie RiverRats, including QB Jarrod Highberger, DL Densville Saunders, and others. Ironically, one of his coaching victories was a 43-13 win on March 17, 2007 over the RiverRats, then playing out of Pittsburgh, when Highberger threw three touchdown passes and Folmar's defense forced five 'Rats turnovers and recorded four sacks.

Folmar is close to earning a Masters Degree in Secondary Education from Edinboro University. He runs a business, Goal Line Stand Imports and Entertainment, specializing in importing, wholesaling, and e-commerce, and works with the therapeutic support staff for Children's Behavioral Health in Meadville. Folmar is a member of the American Legion Post 111, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Italian Civic Club, the Vietnam Veterans and Welcome Home Association Post 52, and is an 11-year veteran of the US Army reserves and Pennsylvania Army National Guard.

Steven G. Folmar - Coaching Resume:

2007 Head Coach, Johnstown Riverhawks (AIFA)

2006 Head Coach, Raleigh Rebels (AIFL)

2005 Defensive Coordinator, Central Valley Coyotes (af2)

2004 Director of Football Operations / Special Teams Coord., Bakersfield Blitz (af2)

2002-03 Linebackers/Running Backs Coach, Bakersfield Blitz (af2)

2001 Defensive Backs Coach, Iowa Wesleyan College (NAIA)

2000 Football Operations Intern, Buffalo Destroyers (AFL)

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