Gruden gains contract extension
January 15, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Jay Gruden will remain Head Coach and Director of Football Operations of the Orlando Predators for at least three more seasons. Originally signed through the 2006 season, Gruden inked a contract extension on Saturday that will take him through the 2008 season. Terms were not disclosed.
"As Arena Football continues on the upswing, I am excited to remain a part of this great game and organization," Gruden said.
"It was a high priority to get a contract extension done with Jay," Orlando Predators President Brett Bouchy said. "He is one of the most successful coaches in league history and has been the face of the Orlando Predators for the last seven years. Jay has drawn a lot of attention from other football organizations both inside and outside the Arena Football League. We are delighted that he will stay in Orlando through 2008."
Gruden joined the Predators after the 1997 season, becoming the youngest head coach in the Arena Football League at age 30. In his first season, he led the Predators to their first-ever AFL championship. He became the first coach in league history to lead a number eight playoff seed to the ArenaBowl the following year and followed that with a second championship in 2000.
He resigned his post after the 2001 season in order to return to the playing field. He posted a 20-9 record as a starting quarterback for the Predators for two seasons. He recorded perhaps his most impressive season as a player in 2003 at age 36, compiling a 10-0 regular season record with 49 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. He compiled those stats despite playing the last six games of the regular season on a broken ankle.
Off-season surgery, plus the tragic passing of then-head coach Fran Papasedero in an automobile accident, resulted in Gruden returning to the Orlando head coaching post for 2004. Under Gruden, the Predators overcame a slow start to win seven of their last eight games and finish with a 10-6 mark.
Gruden will take an all-time head coaching record of 53-30-0 into the 2005 season. Gruden's .639 winning percentage ranks 5th among Arena Football League coaches on the all-time list for winning percentage. In five seasons as head coach of the Predators, Gruden has posted three seasons of 10 or more wins, has led the team to the playoffs all five years and has claimed a pair of AFL championships. As a player and coach, Gruden has been a part of six AFL championship teams, winning four as the starting quarterback with the Tampa Bay Storm in the early 90's. He also earned a Super Bowl championship ring as an offensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Bucs (NFL), a post he has held since 2002.
PREDATORS NOTES: More than 1,000 fans attended the Predators annual season ticket pick-up party on Saturday at Thunder Field adjacent to the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium...Fans enjoyed a 40-minute scrimmage, the Predators inflatables, and food by Log Cabin and Boston Market...the Predators Dance Team â The Prowlers â and mascot Klaw were also at the event that ran from 9 a.m. to 12 noon...Predators DS and three-time AFL Defensive Player of the Year Kenny McEntyre was held out of the scrimmage (groin)...Head Coach Jay Gruden characterized the scrimmage as a "good opportunity to look at some younger players trying to make the team"...The Predators will run and watch film Sunday before starting the second and final week of training camp on Monday...Orlando will travel to Tampa Bay for a scrimmage next Saturday...Gruden will announce final cuts the following day...Orlando opens its regular season at home, hosting the John Elway's Colorado Crush on Sunday, Jan. 30...the game kicks off at 12 Noon and will be televised by NBC Sports.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 15, 2005
- Gruden gains contract extension - Orlando Predators
- Crush waive three players, sign ex-Chiefs lineman - Colorado Crush
- Destroyers waive two - Columbus Destroyers
- Brian Cushing named AFL High School Ironman of the Year - AFL I
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