Georgia's Doug Plank Named AFL Coach Of The Year
July 6, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - Georgia Force Head Coach DOUG PLANK was selected the 2007 Coach of the Year as voted by the 19 head coaches of the Arena Football League, the League announced today. This marks the second time Plank has earned the honor in his three-year tenure with the Force.
Plank and the Force (14-2, 0-0), the second seed in the National Conference, host the No. 4 seed Philadelphia Soul (8-8, 1-0) in a Divisional Round playoff game at Philips Arena on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Sunday, July 8 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN360.com, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 123).
This season, Plank's club became just the second team in AFL history to record 14 regular-season wins joining the 2007 Dallas Desperados (15-1). While leading the AFL in offense, the Force also became the first team in AFL history to score at least 1,000 points in a season (1,007) and QB CHRIS GREISEN set a new single-season record with 117 touchdown passes. Plank has more wins (33) in his first three regular seasons than any coach in AFL history.
Plank was named head coach of the Force prior to the 2005 season and guided Georgia to a League-best 11-5 regular-season record and 13-6 overall record, earning Plank his first AFL Coach of the Year Honor. The 11-5 mark was then a franchise best and secured the Force's first Southern Division Championship. Georgia would advance through the playoffs, eventually falling to the Colorado Crush, 51-48, in ArenaBowl XIX.
Plank has coached in four of the last five ArenaBowls, helping to lead the Arizona Rattlers to three ArenaBowl appearances as its defensive coordinator, before leaving to take over as head coach of the Force.
Selected in the 12th round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, Plank started at safety for eight seasons, becoming the first rookie in Bears history to lead the team in tackles.
The famed "46 Defense" created by defensive coordinator BUDDY RYAN was named for Plank's jersey number and aggressive style of play.
Other coaches receiving votes included: Dallas' WILL MCCLAY, Kansas City's KEVIN PORTER, San Jose's DARREN ARBET, and Tampa Bay's TIM MARCUM.
Following is a list of the all-time AFL Coach of the Year honorees:
ALL-TIME AFL COACH OF THE YEAR HONOREES
SEASON COACH TEAM
2007 Doug Plank Georgia Force
2006 Will McClay Dallas Desperados
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 Barnstormers
1995 John Gregory* Iowa Barnstormers
1994 Perry Moss Orlando Predators
1993 Danny White Arizona Rattlers
1992 Perry Moss Orlando Predators
1991 Fran Curci* Tampa Bay Storm
1990 Ernie Stautner* Dallas Texans
1989 Vito "Babe" Parilli Denver Dynamite
1988 Perry Moss* Chicago Bruisers
1987 Tim Marcum* Denver Dynamite
* AFL first-year head coach
Remaining 2007 AFL Award Announcements:
Tuesday, July 10 - ADT Defensive Player of the Year
Wednesday, July 11 - Offensive Player of the Year
Thursday, July 12 - U.S. Army Ironman of the Year
Tuesday, July 17 - Al Lucas Hero Award
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 6, 2007
- Force Weekly Report: Bring on the Soul - Georgia Force
- Rush Look To Defend Title - Chicago Rush
- Divisional Round Preview - AFL I
- Storm Re-Sign Marshall and Kaleita - Tampa Bay Storm
- Georgia's Doug Plank Named AFL Coach Of The Year - AFL I
- Georgia's Doug Plank Named Coach Of The Year - AFL I
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