Richmond Raiders announce 2012 coaching staff

[raidersradio]

RICHMOND RAIDERS NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Steve Martin shmartin@shmartin.com
December 7, 2011

RICHMOND RAIDERS ANNOUNCE 2012 COACHING STAFF,
WELCOME BACK JAMES FULLER AS HEAD COACH

Bill Jarvis, Joe Valvoda and Larry Long Will Be Assistant Coaches

Richmond, VA—The Richmond Raiders announced today that James Fuller has been named Head Coach for the 2012 Season. In 2011, Fuller coached the Raiders to a 6-6 record and the championship of the Atlantic Division of the Southern Indoor Football League. In addition, Fuller will serve as Offensive Coordinator.

Other coaching staff selections include Billy Jarvis, Defensive Coordinator, Joe Valvoda who will coach the offensive line, and Larry Long, defensive backs coach.

Coach Fuller said, “I’m very enthusiastic about our prospects for the 2012 season. Not only do we have a strong player talent pool to draw from, my assistants and I have a two-month head start over where we began last year [Fuller was appointed head coach in February of 2011]. In addition, Billy Jarvis brings a wealth of experience at defensive coordinator as does Larry Long at coaching defensive backs, and I'm looking forward to working closely with Joe Valvoda who will coach the offensive line. I believe Joe and I will develop an extremely potent offense.”

2012 will mark Fuller’s 14th season as a professional indoor football coach and the second as the Raiders’ head coach. In 2010 he was the Defensive Coordinator for the Dallas Vigilantes of the Arena Football League (AFL). He finished the season as the team’s interim Head Coach. Prior to that Fuller served three years with the Dallas Desperados of the AFL—as a wide receiver / defensive back coach in his first year, and as defensive coordinator in 2007-2008. During that stretch, the Desperados achieved a 40-8 record in three regular seasons, winning two divisional titles. Fuller broke into the AFL in 2004 with the Philadelphia Soul as defensive coordinator. His squad that year was number one in defense against the pass. Fuller was Head Coach of the Bakersfield Blitz Arena Football League 2 (AF2) in 2002-2003, winning the Western Conference championship in 2002. Prior to that he was the Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the Oklahoma Wranglers (also part of the AF2 league) in 1999-2000.

Fuller is a native of Tacoma, Washington and holds a degree in criminal justice from Portland State University, where he was a two-time All American safety. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 1992 and played on that team for three seasons. Fuller also played for the Scotland Claymores, and in 1996 led NFL-Europe in interceptions. He finished his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996.

Other Raiders' coaches have significant professional indoor football experience as well. Billy Jarvis returns to the Raiders for his second year as an assistant coach. He also spent time as defensive coordinator of the Richmond Speed professional indoor team during 2001-2003. Jarvis played college ball at James Madison University.

Joe Valvoda returns to the Raiders for his second season leading the offensive line. A four year letterman at Edinboro University (PA), he played indoors professionally with the Green Bay Blizzard and the Richmond Bandits. He has just completed his sixth year as an assistant coach at Richmond's Douglas Freeman High School.

Larry Long played professional indoor football for four years with the Rochester Raiders of the IFL and was secondary coach and wide receivers assistant for the Richmond Revolution during 2010-2011.

Raiders' owner Elizabeth Fraizer said, “We are excited to welcome back Coach Fuller and are thrilled with our new and returning coaching staff members. We look forward to a successful season in 2012.”

The Raiders will kick off their home schedule at the Richmond Coliseum on Saturday, March 10th, at 7 p.m. with a game against the Columbus Georgia Lions. The Raiders have joined a few past season rivals and some new additions in the newly-formed Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) for the 2012 season. The team's competition will include the Albany (GA) Panthers, the Alabama Hammers, the Louisiana Swashbucklers, the Columbus (GA) Lions, and the Knoxville Nighthawks.

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[coachingubigr]

No Brian Edmonds on stafff? That is a bit of a disappointment. Good luck to the Raiders and Coach Fuller this season.