Gussman Steps Down From Dorados Position
September 3, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
HIDALGO, TX: September 3, 2004 – The arenafootball2 (af2) league and the Rio Grande Valley Dorados serve as a stepping stone to the Arena Football League (AFL) and offer opportunities for players and staff members to advance their careers to the next level. A big example of that was displayed today at a press conference held at the Dodge Arena as Dorados Head Coach / Dir. of Football Operations and Player Personnel Gary Gussman announced his resignation to accept a coaching position with an AFL organization, which will be announced at a later time.
Gussman (gus-man) was serving in his first “head coaching” position with the Dorados. The Dorados went 6-10 during their inaugural campaign that saw highs and lows. Rio Grande Valley won head-to-head season series against four of their five division opponents, but were bit by a seven-game winless streak, which had five of the seven games decided in the final minute of the game and three games decided on the game’s final play. The 38 year-old native of Miami, Florida, accepted his first head coaching position after serving six seasons as an assistant coach within the Arena Football League (AFL). He began his coaching career as a Special Teams Coordinator with the Connecticut Coyotes (AFL) in 1995 and then spent four seasons (98-01) with the Houston Thunderbears (AFL) as the Special Teams Coordinator / Player Personnel. Gussman’s most recent stop prior to the Valley was Orlando serving as the Special Teams Coordinator for the Orlando Predators (AFL) during the 2002 season.
A graduate of Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda, Florida, Gussman played college football at Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and lettered four seasons (1984-87) as a kicker for the RedHawks (formerly known as the Redskins) program. He was 68 for 94 in his college career in field goals (68 field goals made ties for second all-time in the Mid-American Conference) to produce a percentage of 72.3%, which ranks third all-time in the RedHawks record books. Gussman was also 102 for 104 in PATs, producing a school best 98.1% PAT percentage. He earned several accolades while at Miami, including “Freshman of the Year” honors in 1984 by the university and the Miami University “Athlete of the Year” in 1987. While earning a degree in Sports Management, Gussman was a 1st Team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) member in 1987, 2nd Team All-American (Associated Press) in 1987 and 2nd Team All-MAC in 1985 and 1986. He held the MAC record for most points scored by a kicker, until it was snapped this season by Northern Illinois’ Steve Azar. Gussman also kicked 84 consecutive PATs, which ranks second all-time in the MAC.
GussmanÂ’s college success on the gridiron led to a professional career in the AFL, and he began his AFL playing career in 1989 with the Denver Dynamite. He earned 1st Team All-Arena honors following his rookie season with Denver, converting on 7 of 30 field goals and 7 of 19 extra points to co-lead the league with 28 kicking points. His 7 field goals made led the league. In 1990, Gussman played for the Albany Firebirds and was a 1990 2nd Team All-Arena member, leading the league again in field goals made with 10 out of 39 opportunities. After the 1990 AFL season, Gussman attended NFL training camp with the Cincinnati Bengals, but did not make the final roster. He returned to the AFL and to Albany for two seasons (1991, 1992) before closing out his professional playing career. GussmanÂ’s career AFL playing numbers include 36 for 130 in field goals and 89 of 123 in extra points for 197 career points in 32 games played.
At this time, no successor has been announced by the Dorados and President/GM Trey Medlock will personally evaluate the current coaching staff and will review incoming applicants before naming the Dorados next head coach. Medlock would like to have a new head coach in place by November.
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