Arena Football League\'s Mike Hohensee Returns to Area â Can You Fill His Shoes?
Published on October 25, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
This storied history is relevant because Mike Hohensee is much like the athletes who attend his tryouts. Hohensee's college career began at San Antonio Junior College where he was an all-America quarterback. Transferring to the University of Minnesota, he was the team's MVP and the University's Athlete of the Year in his two years as a Golden Gopher.
Mike Hohensee is the every-man of Arena Football - he knows Arena Football like no one else. Currently the Head Coach of the Chicago Rush, Hohensee began his Arena Football career on day one of the League. As quarterback for the Pittsburgh Gladiators, Mike Hohensee threw the first touchdown in Arena Football history on June 19, 1987.
Directing the Gladiators for two seasons, he threw for 2,031 yards, 39 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions before his playing career was ended by a neck injury. Hohensee's professional playing career also includes stints with the Washington Federals of the USFL, the Ottawa Rough Riders and Toronto Argonauts of the CFL and the NFL's Chicago Bears.
Hohensee began his coaching career in 1989 as Offensive/Defensive Coordinator and Special Teams Coordinator for the Chicago Bruisers, becoming the first former player to coach in the Arena Football League. When Hohensee took the helm of the Washington Commandos in 1990, he became the youngest head coach in League history.
In the summer of 1999 NFL Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, along with California businessmen Arthur Price, Alan Levin and Peter Levin, acquired the rights to an AFL franchise in Chicago. The newly awarded team would begin play in the spring of 2001. The first step toward building a winning franchise took place with the hiring of an AFL veteran to develop and run the team's football operations. On September 26, 2000, the Chicago Rush introduced Mike Hohensee as the team's first head coach and director of football operations. Hohensee, who at this point had a successful 12 year AFL coaching career, joined the team after spending the previous two seasons as head coach and director of player personnel for the New England Sea Wolves.
Hohensee began the process of acquiring players for the team's inaugural season. By combining AFL free agents with talented rookies and players claimed off the waiver wire, Hohensee compiled an impressive inaugural season roster. Subsequently, the Rush finished the 2001 regular season 7-7, upset the defending champion Orlando Predators in the playoffs and laid the foundation for a bright and successful future. With its first-round playoff win in Orlando, the Rush became the lowest-seeded team (11th) to ever win an AFL playoff game and the first expansion team to win a playoff game since the 1995 Iowa Barnstormers.
Coach Hohensee has led the Chicago Rush to the play offs in each of the teams four seasons, claiming the Central Division Championship in 2004 with a record of 11-5-0.
Last year, Coach Hohensee returned to Pittsburgh with his staff to hold an open tryout. At that time the coach said, " We consider the area one of the hot beds of talent when it comes to football. We expect to find top flight players at this camp, who will come to camp with us in Chicago come January." The result of that tryout took five outstanding athletes to Chicago, two making the training camp roster.
Hohensee returns once again November 6th to the RMU Island Sports Complex. The try-out will provide an opportunity for athletes to demonstrate their ability in non-contact drills - such as the 40-yard dash, 20-yard agility shuttle and vertical jump - as well as a series of one-on-one individual position drills.
Registration for kickers will begin at 12 p.m. (noon), with registration for all other positions, including QB, WR/DB, FB/LB and OL/DL, beginning at 1 p.m. There will be a $50 registration fee and players will be required to bring their own T-shirt, practice shorts and running shoes.
Recently, Coach Hohensee emphatically stated, "Last year we had a tremendous turn out for our Pittsburgh camp. There were many players who got try-outs with us and a few who actually came to camp in Chicago. We are looking forward to another opportunity to find the next great Arena Football player from the Pittsburgh (Tri-State) area." Hohensee said that he welcomes area athletes to participate in the November 6th tryout by contacting his office at 847/252-7334. It is his intention to find the player(s) willing to compete for roster spots and contribute towards an Arena Bowl championship.
Do you have the ability, resiliency, spirit and determination to be the next Mike Hohensee in the Arena Football League? If so, the Chicago Rush coaches will look forward to seeing you November 6th.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 25, 2004
- Chicago Rush Pursues Local Talent - Chicago Rush
- Arena Football League's Mike Hohensee Returns to Area â Can You Fill His Shoes? - Chicago Rush
- Goddesses have arrived in Las Vegas - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Soul signs four more free agents - Philadelphia Soul
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