Force's Plank named AFL Coach of the Year
June 2, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release
FLOWERY BRANCH, GA, June 2, 2005 â Georgia Force head coach DOUG PLANK was selected the 2005 Coach of the Year as voted by the 17 head coaches of the Arena Football League. Plank earns the League's Coach of the Year honor in his first year as a head coach. The announcement was made live on ESPNEWS this afternoon.
Plank and the No. 1-seeded Force host the No. 3 Orlando Predators in the National Conference Championship game at Philips Arena this Saturday, June 4th at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.
Plank, 52, was named the Force head coach on July 30, 2004, after spending three seasons with the Arizona Rattlers as the team's defensive coordinator, which included three consecutive ArenaBowl berths. Georgia finished last season with a 7-9 record, however this year, under Plank's guidance, the team improved to an AFL best 11-5 regular-season finish, claiming the Southern Division title and top seed in the National Conference. Last week Georgia advanced with a 62-46 playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Storm in the Divisional Round. Under his direction, the Force have won seven of their last 10 games and became only the second team in League history to post a perfect 8-0 regular season home record since the AFL moved to a 16-game schedule in 2003.
A former Ohio State University safety, Plank played in three consecutive Rose Bowls (1973-1975). While at Ohio State, he played for legendary coach WOODY HAYES.
Plank's wealth of football experience includes an impressive career in the NFL. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 12th round of the 1975 NFL Draft and started at safety for eight seasons, including several seasons with legendary coach MIKE DITKA. The "46 Defense" created by BUDDY RYAN was named for Plank's jersey number and aggressive style of play. Plank was also the first Bears rookie to ever lead the team in tackles.
Other coaches receiving votes included: Colorado's MIKE DAILEY, Los Angeles' ED HODGKISS, Nashville's PAT SPERDUTO and New York's WEYLAN HARDING.
The following is the complete list of the Coach of the Year award winners:
ALL-TIME COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS
SEASON NAME, TEAM
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
Force 2005 playoff tickets are on sale and may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (404) 249-6400 or for more information, visit www.georgiaforce.com.
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