NYPL Aberdeen IronBirds

Avengers Sign Mike Wilpolt to Contract Extension

Published on July 20, 2005 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Aberdeen IronBirds News Release


LOS ANGELES -- Mike Wilpolt, the defensive coordinator who had a dramatic effect on the Los Angeles Avengers last season, has agreed with the club on a contract extension, head coach Ed Hodgkiss announced today.

Wilpolt, 37, who was already under contract for the upcoming 2006 season, inked a deal that extended his contract another year through the 2007 campaign. Terms were not disclosed.

"It is really good to lock Mike down for the next two years," said Hodgkiss, who guided the Avengers to their first Western Division championship last season. "Our defense played well this past season and was one of the team's strengths, and obviously, as the defensive coordinator, Mike was a central figure in all of that. We are excited to have him with us and look forward to getting even better defensively in the second year under his leadership."

In his first year with the Avengers last season, Wilpolt's defense led the Arena Football League with 37 takeaways, intercepting 22 passes and recovering 15 fumbles. Los Angeles also ranked second in the AFL in defensive scoring percentage (63.6 percent). The defensive success, coupled with the team's league-leading offensive scoring percentage (74.4 percent), propelled the Avengers to a regular-season record of 10-6 and its fourth consecutive playoff appearance.

"There were some opportunities out there to possibly become a head coach, but I'm very comfortable here within the Avenger family and enjoy working with Ed Hodgkiss," said Wilpolt, who has previous head coaching experience in the AFL. "It is a good match for the both of us and we have an opportunity to be an excellent team. There really is something to be said for working for (Avenger owner) Casey Wasserman. This is a first-class organization and we are on our way to building an ArenaBowl championship team.

"Last season, we had a good defense, but I definitely think that there is room for improvement," Wilpolt added. "Basically, our players made plays when they needed to be made. Leading the league in takeaways was a big part of our success. Getting turnovers is something that we talked about from the very beginning. We always preached it during practice, because one turnover is often the difference in a game."

Prior to joining the Avengers, Wilpolt turned around the fortunes of the Indiana Firebirds in 2004, taking over as head coach after the team lost its first five games under the direction of Steve DeBerg. Wilpolt responded immediately by leading Indiana to six consecutive victories and into playoff contention. The Firebirds ended the 2004 season at 8-8, giving Wilpolt an 8-3 record and establishing him as a finalist for the AFL's "Coach of the Year" award.

Prior to assuming the reigns in Indiana, he was the team's defensive coordinator for the previous three seasons. Wilpolt continued in that role in 2004, which was his fifth with the Firebird franchise, and also coached the defensive backs.

In 1999, when the Firebird franchise was still in Albany, Wilpolt was the special teams coordinator and helped the Firebirds capture the world championship at ArenaBowl XIII. The following season, he was promoted to defensive coordinator. Hodgkiss was the Firebirds' offensive coordinator in each of those years.

Wilpolt originally joined the Avengers as defensive coordinator on Sept. 10, 2004, replacing Doug Kay, who was relieved of his duties on June 23, 2004, after two seasons with the club.

Wilpolt played for four years in the AFL with the Charlotte Rage (1992), Las Vegas Sting (1994-95) and Anaheim Piranhas (1996). During his stint with Anaheim, he established a since-broken league record with 16 tackles in a single game.

Wilpolt was a two-sport athlete at Mesa State College (Grand Junction, Colo.). On the gridiron, he was a three-year starter as a defensive back. Wilpolt was named to the All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference team two times. As a senior in 1991, he was an NAIA All-America selection and earned the school's "Scholar Athlete of the Year" award. Wilpolt originally went to Mesa State on a wrestling scholarship and was a national qualifier in both of the seasons he competed in for the Mavericks (1988-89).

After concluding his playing career in the AFL, he returned to Mesa State to begin his coaching career, tutoring the defensive backs in 1998.

A native of Broomfield, Colo., Wilpolt and his wife, Deseree Becker-Wilpolt, reside in Indianapolis.

Season ticket packages for the upcoming 2006 campaign are on sale now. Please call 1-888-AVENGERS for more information or visit the team's official Website at www.laavengers.com.

The Avengers, who participated in the ArenaBowl Playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, averaged 12,165 fans at STAPLES Center for eight regular-season home games during the 2005 season.

# # # www.laavengers.com # # #

Check out the Aberdeen IronBirds Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



New York-Penn League Stories from July 20, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central