More Hawks Prove They Have Soul - AFL Bound

March 10, 2016 - American Indoor Football (AIF)
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks News Release

Allentown, PA: The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks are proud to announce that two valued Hawks will be moving up the arena ranks to go play and coach in the AFL with the Philadelphia Soul. WR Brandon Renford and Defensive Coordinator Bernie Nowotarski have drawn the attention of the Soul organization and will be joining the team this week for their preseason camp.

Renford is a veteran Hawk that displays tremendous leadership and character day in and day out. Not only is he the Steelhawks all-time leading receiver, but he was awarded the teams Community Outreach award the past two seasons for the time he spent making charitable appearances throughout the Valley. His career stats include a franchise best in several categories - receiving catches and yards (138 catches for 1,674 yds), receiving touchdowns (31), all purpose yards (1,738 yds), and scoring (188).

"There is no one who deserves his shot more than Brandon Renford", states Steelhawks General Manager Mike Clark. "Not only is he an exceptional player with a tireless work ethic, he has also been the model for professionalism off the field as well. The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks organization and fan base will be sad to see him go, but we could not be more proud of him."

Also joining the Soul's rank is Nowotarski, who will step into the Defensive Coordinator role for the organization. While Nowotarski is new to the Hawks this year, the team has had a friendly relationship with him throughout his years coaching against the team. He has spent numerous years coaching with members of our coaching staff previously, and we wish him nothing but the best. He has done a great job getting our defense up and running for the 2016 season.

Stepping into fill the Defensive Coordinator role now vacant for the Steelhawks is Bob Kohler. He will also maintain his role as Linebackers coach and Director of Player Personnel. Kohler has coached for more than 40 years. He spent 3 years at the high school level and 38 at the college level (Kutztown University, Muhlenberg College, and Moravian College); coaching all positions throughout his career. He has coached 12 All-Americans, scores of All-Conference players, coached in nine NCAA Division III National Championship Tournaments, and four Eastern Collegiate Conference Division III Bowl games. Kohler has spent six years coaching at a professional arena level with the Lehigh Valley Outlawz, New Jersey Revolution, and Trenton Freedom where he was the defensive coordinator.

We also are announcing the addition of another member to the Steelhawks coaching staff; Todd Shimko will be stepping into the role as defensive line coach. As a 1997 graduate of Indiana University of PA with a Bachelors of Science in Education and a 2012 graduate from Wilkes University with a Masters in Education, Todd played on both offensive and defensive sides of the ball. As a versatile player, lettermen and team captain during his four years at IUP, Todd experienced 3 NCAA playoff/championship appearances. In 1993 he was a finalist in the Division II National Championship in Florence, Alabama as a D-end. In 1994, the Division II semi-final championship in Corpus Christie, Texas, as a tight end and in 1996, the Division II quarterfinals in Grand Rapids, Michigan as an h-back/tight end. In the fall of 1997, Todd did an undergraduate coaching assistantship at IUP by coaching the tight ends and offensive tackles.

From there, instead of coaching as a profession, Todd made his return home to Bethlehem, PA to pursue his teaching career and begin his life with his wife, Janelle, daughter Makenzie (12 years old) and son Luke (9 years old). Todd is employed with the Intermediate Unite 20 as Special Education teacher for the past 17 years. Todd began his high school coaching career in 1999 at Saucon Valley where he served as an offensive line coach, defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coordinator. Since then, he has served as an assistant coach on both sides of the ball at Bethlehem Catholic, Freedom High School, Catasauqua High School, and currently at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, PA. With Todd's background in the game, he brings a competitive edge filled with experience, knowledge and intensity that is inspiring to the young men of the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks football team.

2016 flex tickets and individual game packages to watch the Steelhawks play inside the PPL Center on Embassy Bank Field are on sale now. Keep checking for the latest news and events from the Steelhawks. For further information please call Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Clark at (610) 282-3100, or visit our website at www.LVSteelhawks.com for the latest Steelhawks news. Reserve your seat now by calling the Steelhawks office at 610-282-3100. The Steelhawks play all of their home games on Embassy Bank Field inside the PPL Center.

Lehigh Valley Steehlawks WR Brandon Renford

Lehigh Valley Steehlawks Wide Receiver Brandon Renford

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