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Axemen Hire Defensive Coordinator

November 15, 2013 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Minnesota Axemen News Release


Bemidji, MN - For the past month, Axemen head coach Robert Fuller has busy assembling a professional indoor football team. Today, Fuller is proud to announce the first member of his coaching staff, a former indoor player who he coached against in his first game as a head coach: Dixie Wooten. Wooten will serve as the team's defensive coordinator.

"I am very pleased to name Coach Wooten as the defensive coordinator of the Axemen," Fuller stated. "Any time you can add a man of his character, knowledge, integrity, and work ethic to your organization, you consider yourself pretty fortunate. He has been in the indoor game since 2004 and knows this game inside and out in all three phases."

"It's an honor to be a part of the Axemen organization and working with a great mentor and coach like Robert Fuller," Wooten reflected. "I'm excited to be in the best indoor league in the nation where you get to coach top of the line players."

Most recently, Wooten was head coach of the Lone Star Football League's San Angelo Bandits in 2013. Prior to his time in San Angelo, Wooten was hired as the offensive coordinator and eventual co-head coach of the IFL's Allen Wranglers, leading the team to a playoff appearance in 2012. While Wooten was with Allen, former NFL star Terrell Owens was on the Wranglers' roster.

Wooten's IFL playing career began in 2009 for River City Rage. Through 10 games with the Rage, Wooten threw 156-of-265 (58.9 percent) for 41touchdowns, seven interceptions, and 1,819 yards before being traded to the Wichita Wild. In Wichita, he completed 71 percent of his passes through five games for 15 touchdowns, three interceptions, and 771 yards.

His break-out season came in 2010 for the Wild as he started all 14 regular season games and led the Wild to the United Conference finals. In the regular season, Wooten completed 216 passes (358 attempts, 60 percent completion rating) for 2,185 yards and 41 touchdowns. Throughout the playoffs, Wooten complete 66 percent of his passes for nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He finished the 2010 playoffs with a quarterback passer rating of 115.7. In 2011, Wooten signed with the then-expansion Nebraska Danger and completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,937 yards and 36 touchdowns.

"Not many guys, at any level of football, go from wearing a helmet to wearing the headset as the head coach of a franchise like he did and that is a tribute to his ability," Fuller reflected. "I knew from the first time we talked defensive football that he and I were on the same page and he was going to be the right man for the job. Coach Wooten's first game as a rookie QB was against me in my first game as a head coach and we've joked over the years that we'd be working together some day. I'm very excited that day finally arrived!"

"Bemidji will love this team and we will earn their love by working hard and playing for them," Wooten stated. "I'm excited for this opportunity."



Indoor Football League Stories from November 15, 2013


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