Drillers hire Silsbee offensive coordinator as new head coach
January 17, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Beaumont Drillers News Release
BEAUMONT, TX - The Beaumont Drillers of the National Indoor Football League have announced that Kyle Mackey has been promoted from the team's offensive coordinator position to head coach. Mackey coached the Drillers' offensive unit for the second part of the 2004 season.
The 42-year-old is currently the offensive coordinator for the Silsbee Tigers varsity football program that went undefeated winning the district championship going 9-0 before losing to Palestine in the Class 3A Division I playoffs while averaging more than 32 points per game.
"I am very excited about this opportunity," said Mackey. "I look forward to working with this group of guys who I know are very good."
Mackey brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. After starting at quarterback at Alpine High School, Mackey received an athletic scholarship to play at East Texas State University, now known as Texas A&M-Commerce. His freshman year, Mackey was the backup of former NFL quarterback, Wade Wilson, and then took over the play calling duties from 1981-83.
His first year turned out to be his best throwing for 2,074 yards and 18 touchdowns. Three years as a starter, Mackey threw for 5,701 yards and 43 touchdowns while setting numerous school records. Mackey was All-Lone Star Conference twice and honorable mention All-American in 1982. This past October, Mackey was inducted to the Texas A&M-Commerce Sports Hall of Honor.
After his senior season at ETSU, Mackey was drafted by the St. Louis Rams of the NFL, in the same class as running back Eric Dickerson. He then went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. With the Dolphins in 1987, Mackey along with Tim Pigeon and Deleterious Johnson were the first Miami team captains at Pro Player Stadium.
Mackey then went on to the Arena Football League (AFL) and played for Albany and Fort Worth. While in the AFL, he threw for 2,253 yards and 34 touchdowns.
"You have to have discipline to win at any level," he said. "That goes from Pop Warner to the NFL and that's the number one thing we are going to look at and improve on."
Mackey will take over a team that finished 8-6 and scored 57.3 points per game and gained 252 yards per contest.
"We have one of the best offensive lines in the league," said Mackey. "The skilled players at wide receiver and running back we have returning, I think are very good.
"With defensive players like Roy Locks and Eric Winchester and an athletic defensive backfield, we have a chance to be real good."
The Drillers open the 2005 season at home against the Odessa Roughnecks on March 5. Season Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling (409) 212-1011. For more information, visit www.getdrilled.com.
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