Carolina Cobras Introduce 2004 Coaching Staff
September 25, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
CHARLOTTE Â The Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League announced Thursday that Eddie Khayat will remain with the team as head coach and director of football operations for the 2004 season. Khayat completed his coaching staff with the additions of AFL-legend John Gregory as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator and Ron Selesky as defensive coordinator. Maurice Blanding has also been retained for his second season as defensive backs coach.
"I learned a great deal this past season about what it takes to be successful in the Arena Football League," said Cobras owner Pete Loftin. "Starting today, with the hiring of this coaching staff, the Carolina Cobras are committed to bringing a playoff caliber football team to Charlotte in 2004."
Khayat, who served as the team's interim head coach for the final three games of the 2003 campaign, originally joined the Cobras organization in February 2003 as the senior advisor of football operations. The Tulane alum brings over 42 years of professional football experience to the sidelines, including 35 years as a player and coach in the National Football League. The former defensive lineman helped the Philadelphia Eagles secure the 1960 World Championship. Overall, Khayat played 117 games with the Eagles, Washington Redskins and Boston Patriots over 10 seasons.
The Mississippi native received AFL Coach of the Year recognition in 1997 after leading the expansion Nashville Kats to a 10-6 mark and an Eastern Division title. Following another playoff appearance in 1998, Khayat handed over the coaching reigns to become general manager of the Kats. Over the next three seasons, the team advanced to the playoffs three times, including back-to-back ArenaBowl berths in 2000 and 2001.
"If I didn't think the Cobras were committed to winning, I wouldn't have accepted the challenge," said Khayat. "We have assembled a coaching staff that I feel has all the qualifications necessary to turn this organization into a winner. John Gregory, Ron Selesky and Maurice Blanding bring a strong combination of offensive and defensive knowledge to this team."
A two-time AFL Coach of the Year (1995, 1996), Gregory guided the Iowa Barnstormers/New York Dragons franchise to two ArenaBowl berths and four division titles in nine seasons from 1995-2003. He received national recognition in 2000 when former Barnstormer, and two-time NFL MVP, Kurt Warner led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title. Known as one of the greatest offensive minds the AFL has seen, Gregory's offenses have averaged 52.8 points per game over his career, including a single-game record 99-point effort by the Dragons in July 2001.
Selesky served as head coach and director of football operations for the AFL¹s Buffalo Destroyers last season. A Coach of the Year award winner as the leader of the arenafootball2's Albany Conquest in 2002, Selesky also was the assistant coach and director of player personnel for the AFL's Tampa Bay Storm from 1997-1999. With the Storm, his teams compiled a 31-11 record and earned a berth in the 1998 ArenaBowl.
Blanding enters his second season as a member of the Cobras coaching staff after spending the 2002 season as defensive backs and special teams coach for the af2 Augusta Stallions.
The Cobras will begin their fifth season in the Arena Football League when the 2004 campaign kicks off the weekend of February 6-8. Season tickets are on sale now and start as low as $64 per seat. For more information, call 877-4-COBRAS or visit www.cobrasfootball.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from September 25, 2003
- Columbus Joins Arena Football League - Columbus Destroyers
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- Carolina Cobras Introduce 2004 Coaching Staff - Carolina Cobras
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