Genuser Returns as San Diego Head Coach
November 17, 2023 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
San Diego Strike Force News Release
The San Diego Strike Force have announced Taylor Genuser's return as head coach for the 2024 Indoor Football League season. He will also retain three assistants from last year's staff.
Genuser will enter his second full season as head coach in 2024 while also serving as the director of player personnel and offensive coordinator. He first spent time on the San Diego Strike Force staff in their inaugural season of 2019 as offensive coordinator. He then returned in 2022 and started the season as offensive coordinator before being elevated to interim head coach to finish the year.
Last season under Genuser, the San Diego offense started the season with a two-quarterback rotation before making a blockbuster trade in Week 6 and acquired veteran indoor quarterback Nate Davis from the Duke City Gladiators.
Davis, despite only playing in 10 games, finished the season ranked seventh in total passing yards while leading the league in average passing yards per game (212). His 48 touchdown passes was tied for second in the IFL - matching Lorenzo Brown of Sioux Falls who played in 18 total games and trailing Dalton Sneed (Bay Area), Anthony Russo (Massachusetts), and Hilliard (Quad City) who all threw for 49 touchdowns while playing in at least four more games than Davis.
The Strike Force offense was highlighted by their trio of top-tier receivers in Marques "Hoodie" Rodgers (15 games, 63 receptions, 760 yards, 14 receiving touchdowns), Carlos Thompson (15 games, 50 receptions, 661 yards, 16 receiving touchdowns), and regular season receiving triple crown winner Kentrez Bell (15 games, 82 receptions, 1092 yards, 24 receiving touchdowns).
In addition to coaching for the Strike Force, Taylor has been the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for Helix Charter High School in San Diego. He also spent time as a quarterbacks and receivers coach at San Diego Mesa College after being an assistant coach at Clovis North and Clovis West High Schools in Fresno.
San Diego finished the 2023 season with a record of 6-9, but lost three games by 3 points or less. Had those three games swung in the Strike Force's favor, they would've been in playoff contention.
"We had a a lot of momentum in the second half of the season and competed in a handful of football games that could have easily gone our way," said Genuser. "I'm looking forward to getting a full offseason with my returning staff along with some new additions. Between the players we've already re-signed from last year and then the additions we'll continue to make as we approach training camp, we're looking forward to building on last year."
As a player, Genuser played four seasons of professional indoor football as a quarterback for the Erie Explosion (CIFL), Billings Wolves (IFL), Iowa Barnstormers (IFL), Duke City Gladiators (CIF), and Sioux City Bandits (CIF). He spent his college years at New Mexico Highlands University and College of the Sequoias.
Kendall Mooney will return as a part of Genuser's staff in 2024 for his season season with the Strike Force. Mooney served as defensive and special teams assistant last season. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Mooney started coaching football after he served time as a hospital corpsman in the Navy. He's worked with programs such as the semi-professional San Diego Surge women's football team, University City High School, Mission Bay High School, and Crawford High School.
James Kilmer will return as offensive line coach in 2024. He first spent time with the Strike Force during their inaugural season in 2019. Kilmer's first experience in indoor football came in 2002-2005 as an assistant coach for the former San Diego Riptide of the AF2. He also spent time as a running backs coach at San Diego Mesa College.
Patrick Kelly also returns next season and will serve as an offensive assistant while supporting front office sponsorship and sales activities with general manager Geno Gerbo and Team President Burt Grossman.
"It's exciting to have some continuity in our staff and a nucleus of players excited to come back and compete," said Gerbo. "We're looking forward to having a strong offseason and adding the roster pieces we need to get into the postseason."
The Strike Force will open the 2024 season on the road against the Duke Gladiators before hosting the San Antonio Gunslingers for their home opener at Pechanga Arena on Monday, April 1st.
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Indoor Football League Stories from November 17, 2023
- Northern Arizona Wranglers Sign Defensive Back Kevin Hyde - Northern Arizona Wranglers
- Blizzard Re-Sign Defensive Back Shawn Steele II - Green Bay Blizzard
- Pirates Ink All Pac-12 Performer - Massachusetts Pirates
- Genuser Returns as San Diego Head Coach - San Diego Strike Force
- Tucson Trades for WR Mike Carrigan - Tucson Sugar Skulls
- Barnstormers Add Running Back - Iowa Barnstormers
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