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Featherstone Leaves Sting, Lovelock to Coach

April 9, 2009 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Saginaw Sting News Release


The Saginaw Sting enter Friday's contest against the Muskegon Thunder trying to fight through two losses. The first of which was, Saturday's 59-20 to the River City Rage, and the second of which was head coach Karl Featherstone, who stepped down due to personal reasons earlier this week.

Featherstone notched a 29-5 record as head coach the past three seasons, including a 5-1 post-season record, who also winning the Continental Indoor Football League Championship last year with the Sting.

Replacing Featherstone as head coach will be Jason Lovelock, who had been serving as the team's defensive coordinator prior to the move.

"I really didn't want to get a job this way," Lovelock said. "Karl and I go back, we coached together almost 10 years. I wish it didn't have to be under these circumstances, with Karl stepping down.

"I just wish him and his family the best and thank you for the years that we coached together."

Despite his friendship with Featherstone, Lovelock admits he is looking forward to leading the Sting the rest of the season.

"In other ways I'm real excited," he said. "I know the guys, they know how I am and how I run things."

Lovelock hopes to get the Sting back on track this week against the Thunder. Coming off their second blemish of the season, he hopes they start to turn things around.

"I'm looking at it right now as a new season," Lovelock said. "We're 2-2 and we're going to start getting back to that winning feeling."

Part of the problem according to Lovelock, is that the team is still adjusting to the talent level of the league, as well as playing eight man football.

"We understand now the way it is," he said about the league. "It's going to get easier and we will prepare better. We're going to be more focused on the game and what's going on."

Lovelock, who also serves as the team's director of player personnel is also planning on upgrading the roster in the coming weeks. Due to inexperience in eight man play and a season ending ACL injury to Corey Gonzales, it's something Lovelcock sees as must.

"I have guys that are coming in that should be able to come in and help out," he said. "I'm really lucky with the guys that I have. I just want to make the nucleus that we have better."

Friday's home contest against the Thunder begins at 7 p.m.



Indoor Football League Stories from April 9, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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