NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Omarr Smith Named Head Coach of Baltimore's AFL Team - Team To

December 14, 2016 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


BALTIMORE - Monumental Sports & Entertainment founder and majority owner Ted Leonsis introduced Arena Football League Hall of Famer Omarr Smith as the head coach of the AFL's Baltimore team on Wednesday, Dec. 14. The team will play at Royal Farms Arena starting in the spring of 2017, and the inaugural season will be presented by MedStar Health, the team's Official Medical Partner.

Smith was the head coach of the LA KISS during the 2016 season where his team earned a home playoff

appearance while ending the regular season ranked second in the National Conference.

"Omarr is a proven winner in the AFL," said Leonsis. "He has seven ArenaBowl Championships under his belt as a player and coach and commands tremendous respect from AFL players and coaches. We are pleased to have a coach of his caliber lead our team."

Prior to leading the LA KISS, Smith served as the assistant head coach for the San Jose SaberCats for two seasons and helped lead the team to an ArenaBowl Championship in 2015. He was also a member of the Arizona Rattlers as defensive coordinator for four seasons and was named the AFL's Assistant Coach of the Year in 2013. In 2012 and 2013, the Rattlers won consecutive ArenaBowl Championships with a defense ranked second in points allowed per game every season Smith led the defensive unit.

"Omarr's vast knowledge of the AFL combined with his strong leadership skills gives him the perfect combination as a head coach for our Baltimore Arena Football League team," said Roger Mody, Monumental Sports & Entertainment co-owner and managing partner of the Baltimore team. "I am excited to have Omarr join our team as we look to assemble a competitive team for Baltimore fans."

Smith is one of the most successful players and coaches in AFL history, earning a combined seven AFL championships. During his nine-year playing career, he won four ArenaBowl titles (2002,2003, 2004, 2007), and ended his career with 35 interceptions, 88 pass break-ups and eight defensive touchdowns. As an assistant coach, he won three ArenaBowl titles, one with San Jose and two with Arizona.

"I am extremely honored and humbled to become the head coach of the Baltimore AFL team," said Smith. "I am overjoyed to be a part of an extraordinary organization in Monumental Sports & Entertainment and look forward to leading a team that makes the city of Baltimore proud. There are tremendous sports fans in Baltimore, and I believe they will embrace the fun, exciting style of football that is the hallmark of the AFL."

The Torrance, Calif., native graduated from San Jose State University and is ranked second on the school's list in career interceptions (13).

Full season-ticket memberships are currently on sale for the inaugural season. Fans can secure their season tickets for the Baltimore arena football team with a $50 deposit per seat by calling 667-930-0200 or e-mail ticketsales@baltimoreafl.com.

MSE also owns the NBA's Washington Wizards, NHL's Washington Capitals, WNBA's Washington Mystics and the AFL's Washington Valor. It recently acquired an ownership stake in aXiomatic, which owns esports franchise Team Liquid.

Photo attached (from left to right): Jeff Bowler (Monumental Sports & Entertainment Vice President of Business Operations), Omarr Smith (Baltimore AFL Head Coach), Jack Young (Baltimore City Council President), Ted Leonsis (Monumental Sports & Entertainment Founder and Majority Owner), Marques Colston (AFL's Philadelphia Soul Ownership Group), Sean Huffman (MedStar Health Sports Medicine), Frank Remesch (Royal Farms Arena General Manager).

About AFL

The Arena Football League will enter its 30th Season in 2017. Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. Teams slated for 2017 include: Baltimore, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Washington D.C. CBS Sports Network nationally broadcast AFL games each week, culminating with the ArenaBowl.

About SMG

Founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to more than 230 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theatres, performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 15 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston's NRG Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering company SAVOR, currently serving more than 140 accounts worldwide. For more information, visit www.smgworld.com .

About Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), located in Washington, D.C., is one of the largest integrated sports and entertainment companies in the country with one of the most diverse partnership groups in all of sports. MSE owns and operates five professional sports teams: the AFL's Washington Valor, NBA's Washington Wizards, NHL's Washington Capitals, WNBA's Washington Mystics and a soon to be named Baltimore AFL team to debut in 2017. The company is also co-owner of aXiomatic, which has controlling interest in global esports franchise Team Liquid, and owns and operates Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., which is annually ranked as one of the top venues in the world by industry publications Billboard, Pollstar and Venues Today. Monumental Sports & Entertainment also manages Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the state-of-the-art training facility for the Capitals and EagleBank Arena on George Mason University's campus. The District of Columbia and Events DC are building a new sports and entertainment facility in Southeast DC on the St. Elizabeth's East campus. The facility will feature a state-of-the art training facility for the Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics and will also include a 4,200 seat arena which will become the new home of the Washington Mystics. The facility is scheduled to open in the fall of 2018. Monumental Sports & Entertainment also co-owns and operates Monumental Sports Network (MSN) with the NBC Sports Group. MSN is the mid-Atlantic region's top destination for exclusive fan experiences and original sports content across desktop, tablet, mobile and OTT streaming devices. Visit www.monumentalsports.com.

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League message board...

Arena Football League Stories from December 14, 2016


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.

Other Recent Tampa Bay Storm Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central