Firebirds shuffle coaching lineup
Published on March 10, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Albany/Indiana Firebirds News Release
INDIANAPOLIS â Indiana Firebirds General Manager John Kolner announced today that the team has made a head coaching change effective immediately. The move will end the tenure of first-year head coach Steve DeBerg and promote defensive coordinator Mike Wilpolt to the team's head coach position for the remainder of the 2004 AFL season.
New Firebirds Head Coach Mike Wilpolt will become the fifth head coach in the Firebirds 15-year history and the third in the last eight months. Wilpolt has been a part of the Firebirds organization for the past six years and the last five as defensive coordinator. A coach on the 1999 Firebirds' championship team in Albany, NY, Wilpolt played four years in the AFL as a defensive specialist with the Charlotte Rage (1992), Las Vegas Sting (1994-95) and the Anaheim Piranhas (1996).
"Mike Wilpolt is one of the best defensive coordinators in the AFL and is well respected around the league", said Kolner. "Mike has great character, is well organized and understands the nuances of arena football. I have complete faith in him to be a great leader and get this storied franchise back to where we need to be."
The head coaching change was made following the first 0-5 start in franchise history that included losing their first two games to expansion teams (Columbus, New Orleans), two division games in a row to Detroit and Chicago, and last week's loss in Orlando. The Firebirds are averaging 203 yards passing per game (17th) and are currently 15th in the league in total offense. The Firebirds lost to the Orlando Predators last Saturday night, 50-38. Offensively, Indiana is averaging only 39.4 points per game. That number ranks eighteenth out of nineteen teams, ahead of only 0-5 Grand Rapids. The move comes the week of the Firebirds' first visit to Austin, Texas to face the Austin Wranglers (3-1) on Sunday.
"I believe that this move is in the best interest of the team at this point in time", commented Kolner. "We are only five games into the season, and I know we have enough time to get this turned around and make a run at the playoffs. We have too much talent on this team to be 0-5. We all need to take a hard look at ourselves, do the right things and realize that we are a playoff caliber team."
Assistant Head Coach Mark Stoute will assume control of the âBirds offense and current wide receivers coach, Willie Wood Jr., will take the special teams responsibility.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to become the head coach of the Indiana Firebirds", Wilpolt said. "I believe that I have the knowledge to be successful in the AFL, being this is my tenth season as a coach and player. The staff and myself are going to get back to the winning tradition of the Firebirds organization".
Firebirds' single game and group tickets for the 2004 season are on sale now and can be purchased by calling a Firebirds' ticket representative at 317.472.8080. Firebirds merchandise is also available at Home Court Gift Shop. For merchandise information, please call 317.917.2755.
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