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Columbus Destroyers Announce Assistant Coaches

October 14, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Destroyers have added Chris Boden, Doug Lytle and Pat Downey to the team's coaching staff, club General Manager and President Jim Renacci announced today. Boden will serve as the offensive coordinator, Lytle as the defensive coordinator and Downey as the team's line coach.

Boden brings four years of Arena Football experience to the Destroyers. In 2008, he was named the offensive coordinator of the Colorado Crush after spending the previous season as the team's quarterbacks coach. As offensive coordinator, his offense ranked among the league leaders in passing yards per game (third), first downs (third), passing touchdowns (fifth) and total offense (sixth). Prior to coaching at Colorado, the former AFL quarterback served as the quarterbacks coach of the Nashville Kats in 2006 under current Destroyers head coach Pat Sperduto. Boden got his start coaching professional football in 2003 as the offensive coordinator/quarterback for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (arenafootball2 League) where the Pioneers tied for 10th in the 27-team league in total offense (247.1 yards per game).

Lytle spent four years as an assistant coach and a head coach with the af2's Green Bay Blizzard from 2005-08. After spending the 2007 season as the team's head coach when Bob Landsee stepped aside for personal reasons, Lytle returned to the defensive coordinator spot after Landsee's return to the top spot in 2008. As the defensive coordinator for the Midwest Division Champion Blizzard he oversaw one of the league's top defenses. Under his tutelage, the Blizzard finished the 2008 season ranked first in total defense (200.2), defensive pass efficiency (69.7), pass defense (178.7), fumble recoveries (25), sacks by (55) and second in scoring defense (38.1). As head coach in 2007 he guided the team to a 9-7 record and two playoff victories before losing to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the American Conference Finals. The former AFL offensive lineman joined the Blizzard staff in 2005 and served as the team's fullback/linebacker and special teams coach for two seasons.

Downey spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons as the offensive/defensive line coach of the Philadelphia Soul. He is being reunited with Sperduto, whom he played center for in 2000 and 2001 as a member of the Nashville Kats. In his six seasons of professional football (three in the AFL) he appeared in two ArenaBowls - ArenaBowl XIV and ArenaBowl XV - both with the Kats and Sperduto. He last played in the AFL in 2003 as a member of the Colorado Crush.

Deposits are now being accepted for Destroyers season tickets for the 2009 season. For information on season tickets, call (614) 246-HITS (4487).

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