Missick named Cincinnati head coach
November 15, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Cincinnati Jungle Kats News Release
The Cincinnati Jungle Kats named Tony Missick, a veteran of 11 seasons in Arena Football as a player and coach, as the first coach of the af2 team. Missick, 39, spent last season as the defensive coordinator of the Everett (WA) Hawks (af2).
With Everett, Missick directed a defense that recorded 18 sacks, an average of two per game. The Hawks ranked sixth in af2 in first downs allowed (16.9 per game) and was eighth in third down efficiency defense, allowing just a 43 percent conversion rate. Missick's defense held Birmingham to 125 pass yards on June 3, a 6.9 yards per completion average, the second-best total in the league last season, in a 40-31 win. The Hawks defense also did not allow a rushing yard to Bakersfield on July 29.
Missick played collegiate football at the University of Kentucky, earning two varsity letters (1988-89) playing for Jerry Claiborne. He was part of teams that defeated Georgia, Indiana, LSU and Vanderbilt while there. After a one-year stint with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, Missick played in the Arena Football League (AFL) for the next five seasons.
Excelling as a defensive performer, Missick played for four teams from 1991-95. He collected 197 tackles, intercepted 12 passes and scored a touchdown during his playing career.
In 2000, Missick started his Arena Football coaching career, serving as defensive coordinator of the Richmond Speed (af2). Richmond finished with a 7-9 record and a fifth place finish in the division. The Speed's defense held three opponents to 30 or fewer points during the campaign. In 2001, he
moved to the Norfolk Nighthawks (af2) as defensive coordinator. The Nighthawks also finished with a 7-9 record, seven times holding the opposition under 31 points and limited opponents to 38.2 points per game, fifth-best in the 28 team league.
Missick's first head coaching opportunity came in 2002, when he was promoted to the top spot with the Nighthawks. Norfolk finished with a 8-8 record and having a 6-2 mark in game decided by seven points or less.
Since then, Missick has served as defensive coordinator with the Columbus Wardogs (2003-af2), Cape Fear Wildcats (2004-af2), Birmingham Steeldogs (2005-af2) and Everett.
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