Steeldogs Round Out Coaching Staff
February 27, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Alabama Steeldogs News Release
Birmingham, Ala. - The pieces have fallen in to place for the Alabama Steeldogs' 2007 coaching staff.
The team has announced the hiring of AFL veteran quarterback Billy Dicken as the Steeldogs Offensive Coordinator and AFL veteran lineman Bryan Ray as the team's Defensive Line and Linebackers coach.
"We're excited to have two great football minds on the coaching staff this season," Steeldogs Head Coach Ron Selesky said. "Billy and Bryan will help our players and team tremendously when it comes to winning football games."
Dicken, a graduate of Purdue University, comes to the Steeldogs after playing the last season with the AFL's Columbus Destroyers. Before playing in the AFL, he led the Quad City Steamwheelers to a 19-0 record and an ArenaCup Championship in the inaugural season of arenafootball2. He passed for 3,444 yards, 73 touchdowns and only four interceptions during the 2000 season.
A veteran of five years in the AFL, Dicken has played for New Orleans (2005), Detroit (2004) and Chicago (2001-2003). He completed 764-of-1264 passes for 9,482 yards and 190 touchdowns during his AFL career. Dicken was a finalist for AFL Rookie of the Year in 2001.
"This is a great opportunity to get in to coaching with Coach Selesky and the Steeldogs," Dicken said. "I'm looking forward to helping this team put up some big numbers on offense."
During his senior year as a Boilermaker, Dicken passed for 3,186 yards, 21 touchdowns and rushed for another 351 yards. He was named First Team All-Big Ten and led the conference in passing and total offense. He finished his career at Purdue with an MVP performance in the 1997 Alamo Bowl where he passed for a bowl record 325 yards.
Bryan Ray spent three years in the Arena Football League at the OL/DL position with the Las Vegas Gladiators, Columbus Destroyers and Carolina Cobras. A graduate of Wake Forest University, Ray finished his rookie year as a Destroyer with 15.5 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
"This is an excellent opportunity for me to be part of a great organization," Ray said. "It's exciting to be part of the great talent here in Birmingham."
Ray has spent time in the New Orleans Saints training camp in 2001 and the Carolina Panthers in 2002. He also spent one season with the Frankfort Galaxy during the 2002 season. He finished his collegiate career second in school history with 21 sacks and 42 tackles for a loss and was named Preseason First Team All-ACC his senior year and Second Team All-ACC as a junior.
"These are two tremendous hires for our organization," Steeldogs Managing Partner Scott Myers said. "Both were fantastic players on the field and will surely make great coaches off the field."
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