AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

AFL Q&A: Colorado head coach Mike Dailey

Published on May 13, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – Colorado head coach MIKE DAILEY and the AFLWA's No. 4-ranked Crush (9-4) continue their Drive to ArenaBowl XVIII this Sunday on NBC at 3 p.m. ET, when they face Dailey's former team, the Indiana Firebirds (7-7) at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.

With a win this Sunday at Indiana, the Crush would not only clinch a playoff berth, but would also set the new mark for the best single-season turnaround in AFL history with a seven-game improvement from the previous season. Colorado went 2-14 in 2003, but the addition of Dailey has the city of Denver in contention for hosting ArenaBowl XVIII. A victory would also move Dailey into a tie for No. 6 in career wins among coaches all-time.

Now in his eighth season as an AFL head coach, his first with Colorado, Dailey has 72 career wins. He was named AFL Coach of the Year in 1999, the same season he and the Albany Firebirds won ArenaBowl XIII.

Prior to being named the Firebirds head coach in 1997, Dailey served as an assistant for five years under current Chicago Rush head coach MIKE HOHENSEE. He spent three seasons as the team's offensive coordinator, during which the Firebirds led the AFL in scoring (60.4 PPG). Dailey served as the team's defensive coordinator in 1992 and 1993. He joined the team in 1991 as offensive/defensive line coach. Dailey began his AFL coaching career as the line coach for the Washington Commandos in 1990.

Q: When was the first time you ever coached football?

A: (The first time I played football) I was probably ten and played at St. Joseph's, which was the grammar school that I went to. It was through the Christian Youth Organization. I started coaching in 1981 at Georgetown Prep High School in Rockville, Md.

Q: How does the AFL differ from 100-yard football?

A: It's faster and it's a little more intense than a 100-yard game. The excitement of the game, the way that the games seem to come down to the wire each week, anyone has a chance at the very end and that sets it apart.

Q: Are your family members fans of Arena Football?

A: (My wife) is a huge fan of the sport. First and foremost, she is a wonderful woman who has been very supportive of me and what I've done. Because I've been involved with the AFL for so long, she has really become a very big fan. She stays up to date with all the League transactions, going-ons, articles and everything through the Internet.

Q: Do you have a pregame ritual?

A: I try to get to the arena about two-and-a-half hours before the game. I visit with our coaches, trainers and equipment managers and make sure that everything we need is going the way we would hope. Then, I usually do my exchanging of the line-up cards with the officials and head coach, which gives me a good time to visit with the opposing coaches just to say ‘hi,' and to touch base with them. I have a close friendship with a lot of guys who coach in this League. It's nice to be able to see them before the game.

Q: What is your favorite sport movie?

A: I really love "Field of Dreams." I thought it was great. My values are attributed to my parents, both my mother and father are both gone now - my father passed away in 1994, my mother in 1997. They were remarkable people. I was the youngest of eight and we grew up on a farm. I think all my good values as a person come from them, and when I see "Field of Dreams," it makes me think of my father and the relationships that you have with your dad, particularly when you're young.

Q: Describe your characteristics on and off the football field.

A: I think I am a guy who is firm and fair. I'm a moral guy. I believe that I am a character person. I love my wife dearly. I don't drink; I don't do drugs. I am a straight shooter across the board, so I try to conduct myself (well) on the field and within my job, trying to be a good leader to the people that I am around. I don't set myself in any high regard, but that's what I'm about.

Q: What makes you a good coach?

A: The people around me. The assistant coaches that we have, the players that we have - no one can do it by themselves. If I have one good characteristic as a coach, (it's that) I have been able to reach out and get good people around me and do a tremendous job for me and for our organization. They really deserve the credit for what happens. I've just been fortunate enough to have great people around me.

Q: What has it been like working with Colorado Crush co-owner and CEO JOHN ELWAY?

A: It's been a real pleasure. He has been a gentleman and a very good owner. He is a guy that lets you do your job, but is also willing to give you some instruction and guidance when he feels it's necessary. He is a very humble man for a guy who has superstar status. I have really enjoyed working for him, I've enjoyed talking to him, and I've learned a lot from him about his perspective of football and business and other things. It's been a real pleasure.

Q: What are your thoughts about the Indiana Firebirds turnaround with coach MIKE WILPOLT?

A: I'm very proud of Mike Wilpolt. We had the good fortune of working together for five years, and I have a lot of good friends still in the Firebirds organization. I'm proud of what they've accomplished. I think coaching in the Arena Football League is serious. I don't know (former Indiana head coach) STEVE DEBERG and I would never say anything bad about him, but I know that he did not have AFL experience. Mike is an experienced coach, and it does not surprise me at all that he has done so well.

Q: What is it going to be like going back to face your former team at Conseco Fieldhouse?

A: It's going to be a little strange. I'm human, like everybody else, and I have good friends there that I respect - coaches, players and front office people. We're in a very competitive business and everyone wants to win. We certainly want to win and they certainly want to win. I'll be professional about it, try to focus on my job, make sure I am doing the right things and not get caught up in the circumstances. It's not Mike Dailey versus the Firebirds. It's the Colorado Crush versus the Indiana Firebirds. I'm a part of this organization and at one time I was a part of that organization, but in sports, things change and you move on. This has been a good move for me to come here and you hate to compete against people that you care about - it 's always difficult - because everyone wants to win.

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?

A: I hope I'm continuing to coach here for the Colorado Crush. I've enjoyed my time here and they have been very good to me, both the organization and the people of Denver. I've fallen in love with the fans here. They've been very supportive of myself and the program. I hope that I am here coaching and that we are having a lot of success.

Q: What is your favorite moment from your AFL career to date?

A: It was 1999. I was coaching for the Firebirds in Albany and we won the ArenaBowl. Everyone set goals to try to be the best. I have a thing that I tell our players all the time, it's "good is the enemy of best." If you set your sights to be good and you're happy with that, it's tough to be the best. For that one year, we were crowned champions and we were the best. That was an accomplishment by our organization and the people that we had.

Q: Who is the toughest AFL player/coach you've faced in your career?

A: I think the toughest coach is probably (Chicago head coach) MIKE HOHENESEE. I have a great admiration for him as a coach. They are always ready, always prepared and they always play hard. Knowing Mike as well as I do, I see the little things in his team that I know is his hand, he put his mark on it. I know how tough it is to beat them. And players in the League, there have been so many great ones throughout the years that I hate to single out one guy.

Q: Which AFL arena do you think is the toughest to coach in?

A: I think Chicago is hard because it's a smaller arena. The people seem to be very close and they're into the game. They're very loud. We were in their division (when I was) in Indiana, so we had to play there every year. We're in their division now and we had to play there earlier this year. It's a place where to crowd gets into it, second only to the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Q: What two AFL teams would you like to see in the ArenaBowl this year?

A: I'd like to see the Colorado Crush and anyone. When you're involved in this level of sports, you put your heart and soul in it. You want your program to be successful and we have great people here. We are very fortunate to have people that are such quality individuals that I would really be proud if our organization could make it to the ArenaBowl. Not so much for me, but for the people that I work for. That would be tremendous.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 13, 2004


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