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PIFL Lehigh Valley Steelhawks

Championship Coaching Staff Returns to the Valley for 2015

October 29, 2014 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks News Release


Bethlehem, PA: The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks are pleased to announce that they will be bringing back some familiar faces to their 2015 coaching staff. The same staff that led the Hawks to the 2014 National Conference Championship last season and three straight playoff appearances returns for the upcoming season.

Fourth year Head Coach Chris Thompson once again surrounds himself with an experienced staff. Thompson will once again run the offense while Bill Sellars and Pat Sisk take over the defensive Coordinating duties. Kenny Miller will handle coordinating special teams and the offensive line again, while former Steelhawk WR/RB, Elliott White, returns to coach the wide receivers and running backs in 2015.

Thompson (Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator), in the Steelhawks first year in the PIFL back in 2013, guided them to their first winning season, a 3rd place finish. This past season, Thompson led the Steelhawks to their first ever National Conference Championship, and was one win away from the teams first league title, falling to the Nashville Venom in the 2014 PIFL Championship. Prior to Thompson coming to the Steelhawks, he worked for the Philadelphia Soul (AFL) as the Manager of Football Programs. Thompson also spent 6 years with the Reading Express Organization as a former Quarterback, Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Assistant General Manager. In his 6 seasons there he helped the Express to achieve an amazing 73-27 record. He had responsibilities that ranged from selling sponsorships, selling group tickets, and recruiting players to name a few. In his first four seasons as a Head Coach, he has yet to miss the post season action and has enjoyed helping more than 25+ young men move up to higher professional teams in the NFL, CFL, and AFL.

Over the years coaching and managing, he has accumulated five Northern Division Championships in 2006 - 2009 & 2011, three Conference Championships, and the 2009 AIFA Bowl III Championship by beating the Wyoming Calvary 65-42 in Casper, Wyoming. Not to mention, the last 7 out of 8 seasons he has managed and coached in professional football, he has participated in the post season action in numerous professional football leagues.

He has also been the Head Coach of the Blue Nation the last two seasons of the East Preps National Bowl All-Star Game that is held in December for college standouts, and this season will be the Head Coach for the first ever FCS National Bowl All-Star Game being held this year. Thompson has an eye for recruiting talented football players and has helped several players over the years who have made it to the next level, signing contracts in those leagues like wide receivers Tyrone Collins, Tom Gilson, Troy Pascley, Torieal Gibson, quarterback Bryan Randle, defensive ends Larry Ford and Brian Brikowski, and offensive linemen Travis Miller and Mike Simons to name a few. This will be his 10th year involved with professional Indoor Arena Football as a former player, coach, and front office personnel.

He graduated from Bloomsburg University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and currently resides in Ephrata, PA with his wife Leeann, daughter Haley, and son Kellen.

Coach Kenny Miller (Special Teams Coordinator/OL Coach) enters his third year in the Valley. He resumes the role he had last season coordinating the Special Teams and managing the offensive line. He brings to the Steelhawks more than twenty-three years of coaching experience at all levels from high school to professional. Coach Miller's career achievement has been five Divisional Championships, three Conference Championships, and one AIFA League Championship in the professional ranks. Miller and Thompson have had a prior working relationship, where they spent six years together with the Reading Express organization. This is where they won multiple championships together and has been a part of an amazing 73 wins out of 100 games in those six years.

Coach Bill Sellars (Defensive Coordinator/DL Coach) also returns for third year with the Steelhawks. His role has evolved throughout the seasons; he will now take over the defensive coordinator duties in addition to coaching the defensive line. Sellars previously coached with the Reading Express and the Harrisburg Stampede. In his previous coaching positions he has coached defensive line, running backs, and special teams. He has been married to his wife Heather for ten years and has two sons, six year old Connor and three year old Cooper.

Coach Pat Sisk (Co-Defensive Coordinator/DB Coach) is in his second year with the Hawks. He will be assisting Coach Sellars with the defensive coordinator duties as well as once again coaching the defensive backs. Sisk played his college football at Moravian College before turning his attention to coaching. He has coached scholastically for the past 25 years, the last 12 spent at Governor Mifflin High School, where he has been a long-time teacher and Defensive Coordinator for their very successful High School football program in Berks County. Sisk is married to his wife Christina and has two children, Elizabeth and Curtis.

Coach Elliott White (WR/RB Coach) returns for his 3rd year with the Steelhawks, his second as a coach after having played for the organization in 2013. Coach White brings five years of playing arena football to his role as Running Backs/Wide Receiver coach. White went to Widener University where he played and started for two years. He began playing arena ball in 2008 for the Kentucky Horseman. In 2010 he led the New Jersey Revolution in kick return yards and touchdowns. White played for the Reading Express from 2011-2012 where he led the team in rushing yards both years. As a Steelhawk in 2013, he was once again leading rusher. White is also a Herbalife Health Coach/personal trainer/performance coach.

Coach Thompson is excited to work with this group of men again. "Winning the 2014 National Conference Championship was a special accomplishment for us and we couldn't have done it without these hard working and dedicated assistant coaches. If there's one thing I have learned over the years, you have to have an excellent supporting cast and I've got the best around with these guys. We are blessed to have all of them back again in 2015 with the black and gold and can't wait for us to not only coach our first game inside the new PPL Center but also raise our National Conference Championship banner in it."

The team is already beginning the recruiting process for the 2015 season. The first open tryout for the 2015 season will be Saturday, November 23rd at Iron Lakes Sports Complex. Keep checking for the latest news and events from the Steelhawks! For further information please call Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Clark at (610) 282-3100, or visit our website at www.LVSteelhawks.com for the latest Steelhawks news!

Fans are reminded that 2015 season ticket deposits are being accepted now to reserve your seats for the 2014 PIFL season. You can reserve your seats by calling the Steelhawks front office at 610-282-3100. Ticket packages start as low as $48!



Professional Indoor Football League Stories from October 29, 2014


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