Cobras Name Ron Selesky Interim Head Coach
April 15, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
CHARLOTTE â The Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League announced today that Ron Selesky has been named interim head coach. Selesky, who began the season as the club's defensive coordinator, will look to revive a Cobras team that has dropped seven out of its last eight games after beginning the season with back-to-back victories. He replaces John Gregory, who was relieved of his duties after earning a 1-3 mark since taking the reigns in week seven and serving as the team's offensive coordinator throughout the 2004 campaign.
"This organization is committed to making progress and to winning games," said Cobras General Manager Darrell Harbin. "We will continue to make changes until we find the right combination of play ers and coaches to accomplish this goal."
Selesky returned to the Cobras this season after serving as head coach and director of football operations for the Buffalo Destroyers during the 2003 campaign. He previously was a member of Carolina's original coaching staff in 2000 as an assistant coach and director of player personnel.
Prior to joining the Destroyers, Selesky earned 2002 af2 Coach of the Year honors with the Albany Conquest, guiding the expansion franchise to a regular season mark of 13-3 and the Northeast Division title. He also served as the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1997 to 1999. With the Storm, his teams compiled a 31-11 regular season record and earned a berth in the 1998 ArenaBowl.
"I am truly excited about this opportunity," said Selesky. "Some unfortunate things have happened to two coaches that I have a lot of respect for. However, the reality is that we have a big game to focus on and win this Saturday, so we have to keep everybody focused."
Gregory previously earned two AFL Coach of the Year awards in guiding the New York Dragons/Iowa Barnstormers franchise to two ArenaBowl berths and four division titles from 1995 to 2003. He currently ranks among the all-time coaching leaders in AFL history with 73 career wins (6th), 130 games coached (5th) and six postseason victories (5th).
The Cobras coaching staff and players will be available for comment following practice Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. at the Charlotte Coliseum.
Carolina hosts the first-year Philadelphia Soul this Saturday, April 17 at the Charlotte Coliseum. The Eastern Division battle with the Soul, which is owned by world-renowned recording artist Jon Bon Jovi, will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. (EST) and will be followed by a postgame concert by Charity Case, featuring Ace of the Ace and TJ morning show on Kiss 95.1 FM.
Cobras' flex plans and group tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 877-4-COBRAS or visiting www.cobrasfootball.com. Individual game tickets are available at the Charlotte Coliseum box office or at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 704-522-6500.
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