Avengers exercise option on head coach Ed Hodgkiss' contract
Published on June 21, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Avengers have exercised an option on head coach Ed Hodgkiss' contract, owner and chief executive officer Casey Wasserman announced today. The move will keep Hodgkiss in place for the 2007 season, his sixth at the helm of the Avengers.
After leading Los Angeles to its first appearance in the Arena Football League playoffs in 2002, Hodgkiss signed a five-year contract extension that included an option in the last year of the deal.
Regarded as one of the brightest offensive coaches in the AFL, Hodgkiss owns an overall record of 43-35, has advanced to the playoffs four times in five seasons and his teams have averaged 54.2 points per game during his tenure.
After guiding the Avengers to their first Western Division championship in 2005, the Avengers slipped to 5-11 this past season, but developed some exciting rookies, including quarterback Sonny Cumbie.
In his first two years in Los Angeles (2002 and 2003), Hodgkiss directed the Avengers to a 19-11 record. No head coach in league history has won more games in his first two seasons than Hodgkiss, who was the runner-up for the AFL "Coach of the Year" award in both 2003 and 2005.
In 2004, the Avengers went 9-7 and led the AFL in scoring, averaging 56.5 points per game.
While in Los Angeles, Hodgkiss has coached numerous league award winners and record breakers, including wide receiver/defensive back Kevin Ingram (2005 "Ironman of the Year"), wide receiver/linebacker Greg Hopkins (2002 "Ironman of the Year"), lineman Silas Demary (2005 "Defensive Player of the Year" and "Lineman of the Year"), kicker Remy Hamilton (2005 and 2006 "Kicker of the Year"), offensive specialist Chris Jackson (2003 "Offensive Player of the Year" with 46 touchdown receptions) and quarterback Tony Graziani (99 touchdown passes in 2004).
Hodgkiss, 35, is the second youngest head coach in professional football (only Weylan Harding of the AFL's New York Dragons is younger).
Prior to joining the Avengers, Hodgkiss had been with the Indiana Firebirds since 1997. He was the team's offensive coordinator for three seasons (1999-2001) and earned an ArenaBowl world championship ring with the Firebirds in 1999.
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