Dallas' Will McClay named AFL Coach of the Year
May 25, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - Dallas Desperados Head Coach WILL MCCLAY was selected the 2006 Coach of the Year as voted by the 18 head coaches of the Arena Football League. This marks the first time McClay, in his third season at the helm in Dallas, has earned the honor. The announcement was made live on ESPNews this afternoon.
McClay and the Desperados (13-3, 0-0), the top seed in the National Conference, host the No. 6 Georgia Force (8-8, 1-0) in a Divisional Round playoff game at American Airlines Center on Saturday, May 27 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
This season, McClay's club became just the second in AFL history to record 13 regular-season wins joining the 2002 San Jose SaberCats, who were recently named the best team in AFL history by the League's Historical Committee. The 2006 Desperados became just the fourth team in history to lead the AFL in scoring offense and defense in the same season and QB CLINT DOLEZEL set a new single-season record with 105 touchdown passes.
McClay was named the Desperados head coach on Feb. 5, 2004 - just three days prior to the start of the 2004 season - after former Head Coach JOE AVEZZANO announced his resignation to return to the NFL.
Before taking on the role of head coach, McClay guided the Desperados defensive attack. He was hired as the team's inaugural defensive coordinator in 2002, and helped the club make two playoff appearances and win an Eastern Division title in its first two years of existence. He remained the team's defensive coordinator after taking over as head coach.
In addition to his work with the Desperados, McClay also works in the Dallas Cowboys scouting department grading players on other NFL teams.
McClay was a four-year letterman and team captain as a defensive back at Rice University (1985-88), starting every game of his collegiate career. He graduated in 1990 with a degree in political science.
As an AFL player, McClay spent four seasons as a WR/DB for the Detroit Drive helping them to three ArenaBowl titles in four appearances.
Other coaches receiving votes included: Colorado's MIKE DAILEY, New York's WEYLAN HARDING, Orlando's JAY GRUDEN and San Jose's DARREN ARBET.
ALL-TIME AFL COACH-OF-THE-YEAR HONOREES
SEASON NAME, TEAM
2006 Will McClay, Dallas Desperados
2005 Doug Plank Georgia Force*
2004 Mike Neu, New Orleans VooDoo
2003 Todd Shell, New York Dragons
2002 Darren Arbet, San Jose SaberCats
2001 Michael Trigg, Grand Rapids Rampage
2000 Darren Arbet, San Jose SaberCats
1999 Mike Dailey, Albany Firebirds
1998 Tim Marcum, Tampa Bay Storm
1997 Eddie Khayat, Nashville Kats
1996 John Gregory, Iowa
1995 John Gregory, Iowa*
1994 Perry Moss, Orlando
1993 Danny White, Arizona
1992 Perry Moss, Orlando
1991 Fran Curci, Tampa Bay*
1990 Ernie Stautner, Dallas*
1989 Vito "Babe" Parilli, Denver Dynamite
1988 Perry Moss, Chicago Bruisers*
1987 Tim Marcum, Denver Dynamite*
* AFL first-year head coach
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