Former Riptide Coach Resigns Post With Coyotes
June 8, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
FRESNO, Calif. â Former Riptide Head Coach Cree Morris, who accepted the position of head coach with the division rival Central Valley Coyotes after the 2003 season, has resigned his post with the team to pursue other opportunities, effective immediately, according to a press release made by the Coyotes' front office Tuesday.
Morris, who guided the Riptide through their first two seasons of existence, including their only playoff victory, a 40-27 win over the Bakersfield Blitz in 2002, had led Central Valley to a disappointing 1-8 record through its first nine games. Fred Biletnikoff Jr., who was serving as the Coyotes offensive coordinator, will assume head coaching responsibilities through the remainder of the season, pending league approval.
The Coyotes franchise, which had relocated from Bakersfield to Fresno after changing ownership this off-season, feature an extremely inexperienced roster that, as of their last game, featured 16 arenafootball2 rookies. The relative lack of experience, coupled with a tough divisional schedule, left the team with the league's worst record.
Ironically, Morris' last game with Central Valley came last week against the Riptide â a 45-24 loss that included his third change at quarterback this season. The Coyotes will travel to Honolulu to take on the Hawaiian Islanders this Saturday in their first game without Morris at the helm.
Biletnikoff Jr. is in his second af2 season after serving as an offensive assistant with the Fresno Frenzy in 2002. He also has experience coaching in the college and high school ranks.
The Riptide will play Central Valley twice more in 2004, including a July 10 game in Fresno and the season finale on July 30 at the Sports Arena.
In other news, the Riptide placed OL/DL Patrick Girardi on the short-term injured reserve with a sore shoulder. He had appeared in just three games so far this season, recording one tackle, one sack and a forced fumble. He is expected to return in two weeks.
After a bye this week, the Riptide, winners of three straight, will conclude a three-game road trip on Saturday, June 19 in Hawaii when they take on the Islanders in a game that could put them at the .500 mark for the first time this season.
The âTide then return home for the first time in five weeks on June 26 to take on the first-place Bakersfield Blitz. Free Riptide ball caps will be given to the first 3,000 fans, courtesy of Sportsbook.com. Tickets are still available at the Sports Arena box office or at TicketMaster.com. Fans can catch all the excitement for each Riptide game at www.WorldTalkRadio.com.
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