Desperados Hire New Offensive Coordinator
October 8, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
The Dallas Desperados announced today the hiring of Steve Thonn (pronounced TAWN) as Offensive Coordinator. Thonn replaces Tom Luginbill, who left the team last month to become the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator for the Detroit Fury.
Thonn brings 14 years â eight as a coach and six as a player â of Arena Football League experience to Dallas. In eight years as an offensive coach in the indoor game, his offense has led the AFL in total offense three times and finished second once. He has also had offenses lead the league in scoring, passing offense, touchdown passes and first downs.
"Steve has an outstanding reputation as an offensive coach in the Arena Football League," says Desperados Head Coach Joe Avezzano. "We've been interested in Steve being a part of the organization from the beginning, and we're very happy to now have him as an integral part of our continuing efforts to improve on last year's team. He knows the game inside and out, and he is highly regarded in the league. We feel fortunate to have Steve join us."
Thonn spent the 2002 season coaching high school football in Illinois after serving as the head coach of the Houston ThunderBears from 1998-2001. The ThunderBears led the AFL in total offense each of his first three years at the helm while averaging more than 50 points-per-game each season. The ThunderBears finished the 2001 season with 3,933 yards of offense â the only time under Thonn the team did not eclipse the 4,000 yard mark for total offense â to rank fifth in the league
As Houston's offensive coordinator in 1997, Thonn guided the most improved offense in AFL history, increasing the team's scoring by 22.3 points-per-game while finishing the year first in passing offense (306.1 yards-per-game), second in total offense (316.0) and fourth in scoring (52.4). His system also produced the first 400-yard passing performance in league history as quarterback Clint Dolezel threw for 449 yards at Iowa on July 26, 1997.
Thonn joined the ThunderBears after serving as offensive coordinator for the Milwaukee Mustangs in 1996, helping the Mustangs to a 10-4 record while averaging 50.3 points-per-game. Prior to Milwaukee, he was the Connecticut Coyotes' offensive coordinator in 1995. He began his coaching career in 1994 as the wide receiver/special teams coach of the Albany Firebirds, who compiled a 10-2 record and led the league in scoring.
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Thonn spent two seasons with the AFL's Chicago Bruisers (1988-89) and four years with the Albany Firebirds (1990-93) as a wide receiver/defensive back.
Thonn joins Head Coach Joe Avezzano, Defensive Coordinator Will McClay and Offensive/Defensive Line Coach Jon Norris in leading the Dallas Desperados into their second season in the AFL. The Desperados kick off the 2003 season the weekend of Feb. 1-2. The 2003 season will consist of 16 regular season games â eight home games and eight road games â and will be the first year NBC Sports televises weekly AFL games. The Arena Football League is finalizing the 2003 schedule and should be releasing that information in the coming weeks.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 8, 2002
- Desperados Hire New Offensive Coordinator - Dallas Desperados
- Fury Acquires Milanovich - Detroit Fury
- Super Bowl Champion Joins Destroyers - Buffalo Destroyers
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