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Joe Brannen Signs Extension with Abilene Ruff Riders

August 14, 2012 - Lone Star Football League (LSFL) - Abilene Ruff Riders News Release


The Ownership group for the, soon to be renamed, Abilene Ruff Riders are pleased to announce that Head Coach Joe Brannen and the team have agreed to a new multi-year contract that will have coach Brannen as the Head Coach of the team for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

"Joe was a young coach last year that gained a ton of on the job experience with the team last year. The biggest compliment I can pay Joe, is the feedback we have received from the players in the form of overwhelming positive response to renewed contracts for 2013 with our core of players that we want to have back", said Randy Sanders, Owner. "I had the opportunity to watch a good young coach take a young team and compete every week. We were competitive in all but 1 game this year and could have just as easily won those games. With a year under his belt we expect great things next year out of Joe and this team. I could not be more excited that Joe will be our coach for the next two years. It is his leadership he learned from his playing experience translated into the role of a coach that will make him successful at any level and we are lucky to have him in Abilene. Abilene is in a rare position of knowing who the coach of the team will be for the next two years, that is rare at this level of professional football." said Derek Hood, Owner.

Coach Brannen lead the Ruff Riders to a 5-8(officially 4-6) record in his rookie year as head coach and missed the playoffs by a last second field goal in the last game of the season. For the first time since 2009 the Ruff Riders were playing for a playoff spot up to the last second of the last game of the season. The Ruff Riders could have easily be 8-5 this year with 3 competitive losses by 1point and 1 loss by a touchdown. "I went into this year with a very young football team. At the end of training camp I looked at our final roster and realized that the majority of our players were playing professional football for the first time. I am excited to say that all of are targeted players, most of which were rookies last year will be back for another season in 2013. Those players were rookies last year will now have a little veteran in them and will be better prepared to win a championship with that experience" said Joe Brannen, Head Coach.

Coach Brannen, when asked about his contract had this to say, "I could not be more pleased with the confidence the Ownership group has shown by offering me a multiple year contract. To my knowledge multiple year contracts are rarely if ever done at this level. I am pleased to be able to know that I will be in Abilene for the next two years and I hope for many more at the end of this contract as well. I love Abilene, I have made some great friendships here and I hope have a long career here. Ultimately, I look forward to building this team into a championship caliber Franchise year in and year out."

The Abilene Ruff Riders will be announcing the new team name, colors and mascot, as well as other information on the 2013 season at a press conference this Friday and further information will be released on the time and location of that conference in the coming days. The Franchise is looking forward to a great 2013 season and watching Coach Brannen bring a championship to the community.

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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.

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