Mike Hold Relieved Of Coaching Duties With Cobras
April 28, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
CHARLOTTE Â The Carolina Cobras have relieved head coach Mike Hold of his duties, the team announced today. Former Arena Football League Coach of the Year and NFL head coach Eddie Khayat will take over the position on an interim basis.
"As owner, I felt that in the best interest of our team, fans and sponsors, it was time to make a change," said Cobras Owner Pete Loftin. "This is the first step in our commitment towards putting a winning team on the field in 2004."
Hold was in his first year with the franchise after two years as head coach of the af2 Augusta Stallions. The Cobras are currently the only winless team in the AFL with a 0-13 record.
"I didn't do the job they asked me to do and that was to win football games," said Hold. "It's the nature of the beast as a coach. I didn't fulfill my end of the bargain. I want to thank Mr. Loftin for the opportunity. I just feel bad that I let him down."
Khayat is in his sixth decade in professional football, having spent 35 years as a player and coach in the National Football League. He joined the Cobras organization as Senior Advisor of Football Operations in February.
Khayat spent five years with the Nashville Kats, where he served as head coach in 1997 and 1998 and as general manager from 1999-2001. Khayat was honored as the AFL's Coach of the Year in 1997 after guiding the expansion Kats to a division championship. In his two years as head coach, the Kats had a 19-11 record and made the playoffs both years. In his three seasons as general manager, the Kats made the playoffs each year and played in the ArenaBowl in 2000 and 2001. Khayat also served as head coach of the New Orleans Night in 1991.
"Mike's contribution to the development of this team is very much appreciated by the Cobras organization. We wish him well in his next endeavor," said Khayat. "All of our players and coaches will have to reach down deep and come up with more of what we need to win these last three ballgames."
Khayat played in the NFL for nine seasons with the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles before ending his playing career with the AFL's Boston Patriots. He was a starter on the defensive line for the Philadelphia team that won the 1960 World Championship. Khayat began his coaching days as defensive line coach with the New Orleans Saints, where he served for four seasons before taking over as head coach of the Eagles in 1971. After two years in Philadelphia, he was a defensive line coach with Detroit, Atlanta, Baltimore, New England and Tampa Bay. Khayat was a coach on the New England Patriots 1985 AFC Championship team, which lost to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX.
"It's always hard to make a change like this, especially when you¹re talking about a very good person like Mike Hold," said Cobras General Manager Darrell Harbin. "But it was time to make a change. We're going to take the team in a new direction."
Khayat will make his debut as the Cobras head coach this Sunday when the team hosts the Chicago Rush at the Charlotte Coliseum at 3:00 p.m.
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