Georgia Force complete coaching staff
Published on October 7, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release
FLOWERY BRANCH, GA, October 7, 2004 â The Georgia Force have rounded out their coaching staff under head coach Doug Plank by hiring Maurice Blanding as wide receiver/defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator, Brennen Booth as fullback/linebacker coach, Shannon Kneeland as quality control/player personnel and Topher Roberts as football operations assistant.
"The experience and knowledge that each one of these coaches offer will be a valuable asset to this team," said Plank. "Our job now, as a group, is to continue to find the best players and prepare our team mentally and physically to compete at a high level each and every week."
BLANDING comes to the Force following two seasons with the Carolina Cobras, where he held positions as the club's defensive coordinator, defensive backs and special teams coach. His coaching career began in 2002 with the af2 Augusta Stallions as the defensive backs and special teams coach. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Blanding spent the 2001 campaign as a player for the Stallions setting a team single-season record for tackles and leading the club in interceptions.
BOOTH returns for his third season with the Force. During his previous two seasons, he served as the team's assistant line and special teams coach. Booth began his AFL career as the fullback/linebacker and special teams coach for the Nashville Kats in 2001 and later became the line coach for the Carolina Cobras in 2002.
KNEELAND joins the Force bringing with him an extensive background in scouting and player personnel. He currently serves as the President & CEO of Diamonds In the Rough, Inc., a black colleges football scouting report. Kneeland began his professional sports career with the Denver Broncos in 2002 as a pro scout intern, and during the last two years served as a training camp intern for the director of football operations of the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe.
ROBERTS is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played both football and soccer. This past spring, he interned with the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe during their training camp in Tampa, Florida.
The Georgia Force begin a new chapter in their team history when they kick off their fourth season in the Arena Football League in late January 2005. This past August, the AFL's board of directors voted to approve Arthur M. Blank, owner & CEO of the Atlanta Falcons, as the new owner of the Georgia Force. Along with the ownership change, the Force announced they will be led on the field by new head coach Doug Plank and will be returning to downtown Atlanta to play their home games at Philips Arena. For more information on Georgia Force season tickets, call (404) 222-5770 or visit www.georgiaforce.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 7, 2004
- Rattlers Keep Bo Kelly - Arizona Rattlers
- Georgia Force complete coaching staff - Georgia Force
- Gladiators sign additional five for 2005 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Storm sign AFL veteran Hall and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Elpheage - Tampa Bay Storm
- Kats Add Former Titans - Nashville Kats
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
