Kendall named Vipers Assistant Head Coach
January 25, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Alabama Vipers News Release
Huntsville, Ala. - Tennessee Valley Vipers coach Milt Theodosatos has announced that Vipers assistant Tracy Kendall will return as the team's assistant head coach for the 2007 arenafootball2 season.
The Vipers also have been assigned former Tennessee State defensive lineman Ernest Jones, Campbellsville defensive lineman Braxton Anderson and former Shippensburg tight end Joel Gamble.
Theodosatos said that Kendall, who coached wide receivers in '06, will also oversee the defensive backfield and serve as both assistant offensive and defensive coordinator.
"Tracy will be my right hand and my left hand,'' Theodosatos said. "He's a great coach who knows the arena game - and he's played it. He's an outstanding evaluator of talent and has great sense of anticipation in the game. He's a special person."
Kendall served as the Vipers assistant defensive coordinator in '04 and was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Huntsville's indoor team in '05.
"I'm very excited about this upcoming season and I'm working with Coach Theo in trying to renew some of that fire that we've had before in the franchise,'' Kendall said. "I think this season is going to bring back some excitement on the field and I think Coach T is doing a heck of a job recruiting. You never know until the rubber meets the road and the guys get into camp, but I'm excited about the level of talent he is bringing in."
A former All-SAIC pick and four-year starter at quarterback at Alabama A&M, Kendall played as a backup quarterback and wide receiver/linebacker for the Vipers from 2000-02.
In 34 career Tennessee Valley games, he caught 40 passes for 410 yards and six touchdowns, completed 31 of 59 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns, and recorded 44.5 tackles, four pass breakups and had one interception. During the 2000 af2 playoffs, Kendall caught the game-winning touchdown at Augusta that sent the Vipers to the inaugural ArenaCup championship game.
Theodosatos said his latest three additions should all have an impact as he continues to build size up front.
Jones (6-foot-2, 310) had a brief stop at Memphis last season and a total of 59 tackles and two sacks during his '04 and '05 years at Tennessee State. Gamble (6-2, 255) caught nine passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns in '04 at Shippensburg. Anderson (6-5, 300) was discovered by Theodosatos at a Nashville Katz tryout camp in November.
"Braxton is a big man that can move and can be a tremendous player on either side of the ball,'' Theodosatos said. "I'm hoping Jones can be a productive defensive nose for us and I'm looking at Gamble as not only a tight end, but a fullback."
Tryout set for Feb. 4: The Vipers will hold an open tryout Feb. 4 in the Von Braun Center's South Hall. There will be a 1 p.m. registration and a 2 p.m. start with an early registration charge of $35 and a $40 fee the day of the event. For more information contact Theodosatos at 256-551-2387.
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