Cleveland Pratt Returns to Empire Coaching Staff
October 4, 2016 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Spokane Empire News Release
Cleveland Pratt Returns to Empire Coaching Staff
(Spokane Empire, Credit: Gary Peterson Photography )
SPOKANE, Washington - The Empire has announced the re-signing of Assistant Head Coach and Director of Player Development Cleveland Pratt in preparation for the 2017 Indoor Football League season.
Pratt will be entering his twelfth season of coaching after joining Spokane for their inaugural season in the IFL in 2016. Before his move north to Spokane, he spent seven years in Tri-Cities. Six of those seven years with the Fever were spent with now Empire Head Coach Adam Shackleford.
During the 2016 IFL season in Spokane, Pratt helped the Empire to a 12-4 regular season record and Intense Conference Championship victory. Beyond assisting as an offensive assistant, wide receivers coach, and special teams coordinator; Pratt also serves a key role in the recruitment and development of players.
For the second year, Cleveland has spearheaded Spokane's partnership with Chamber Fitness which serves as the host site of one of the Empire's offseason open tryouts in Davie, Florida.
Since relocating to Spokane last year, Pratt has also taken on a position as an assistant coach at North Central High School.
"Coach Pratt and I will be going into our eighth season working together in 2017," said Empire Head Coach Adam Shackleford. "He is a tremendous coach on the field and one of the best recruiters I've worked with. I can't imagine going through a season without Coach Pratt on my staff."
In seven total seasons with the Fever, Pratt served in multiple positions. In 2007 under Head Coach Tony Wells while the Fever were in the af2, Pratt served as offensive coordinator and the defensive backs coach. He held the same position under Head Coach Pat O'Hara in 2009.
In 2010, Head Coach Adam Shackleford joined Tri-Cities for the franchise's first season as a member of the IFL. Pratt served as the team's defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator for their next three seasons (2010-12). During the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Pratt took over as defensive coordinator and continued as the special teams coordinator. In 2015, he stepped into the role of assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator, and assistant director of player personnel.
Before joining the Fever back in 2007, Pratt coached for two seasons (2005-06) as the co-offensive coordinator for the Miami Morays of the National Indoor Football League.
Cleveland played a total of six seasons in the Arena Football League, playing for Miami (1995), Florida (1996-99), and Grand Rapids (2000). In six seasons he caught 195 passes for 2,372 yards with 35 touchdowns, including 82 receptions for 1,094 yards and 18 touchdowns with Florida in 1996. He had six rushing touchdowns and added 210 kick returns for 3,941 yards and six scores.
Pratt played his collegiate career at Edinboro University (PA) where he earned a B.A. in communications and TV productions. He was inducted into Edinboro's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014 for football and men's track and field. He still holds the school records for career kickoff returns (76), career kickoff return yards (1,844), and longest kickoff return (100 yards), along with most kickoff returns for touchdowns (3). In track & field, Pratt was a five-time PSAC individual champion while competing in the 100, 400 and long jump. He earned All-American honors in the long jump in 1990. He is originally from North Miami Beach, Florida where he graduated from North Miami Beach High School. Pratt is the oldest of twelve siblings.
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 Cleveland Pratt Returns to Empire Coaching Staff (Gary Peterson Photography ) |
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