Munsey moves up to Carolina

by Vipers Press Release
September 17, 2001 - arenafootball2 (af2)

Vipers Press Release

Huntsville, AL - Tennessee Valley Vipers Head Coach and Director of Football Operations, Bret Munsey, announced today that he is resigning as head coach to accept the defensive coordinator position with the Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League.

"This was a fantastic season," Munsey said. "There is no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision to come here. The organization and the community have been tremendous. I am going to miss Huntsville and the friends that I have made here, but I have an opportunity that I can't pass up."

Munsey was named af2 Coach of the Year after leading the Vipers to a 14-2 regular season record and the af2 semifinals. The team finished the season 7-3 at home and 8-0 on the road and third in af2 in scoring at 54.5 points per game while finishing fifth in points allowed at 38.2 points per game. The Vipers placed two players on the all-af2 team, quarterback Matt Sauk and offensive/defensive lineman Curtis Jeter.

"af2 is a league of development for not only players but also for coaches," Vipers owner, Art Clarkson, said. "Bret Munsey followed that mold. This was his first head coaching position and he responded in a fantastic way by winning 15 games and only losing three. He was named by his peers (27 teams), as the league coach of the year. The team set numerous league and team records. We have been very fortunate to have two very successful coaches, in Munsey and Tom Luginbill. The Vipers organization wishes him much success in his new position and in becoming a very successful football coach. We hope that our next coach we hire will follow in our tradition of successful coaches."

Munsey rejoins Cobras head coach Mike Neu. Munsey served as Neu's defensive coordinator with the Augusta Stallions in 2000. Together, they led the Stallions to a 13-3 record and advanced to the semifinals. His defense was ranked in the top four in all major categories and placed three players on the all-af2 team.

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arenafootball2 Stories from September 17, 2001

• Munsey moves up to Carolina - OSC Original by Vipers Press Release

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