Muskegon Thunder Announces Coaching Staff

February 11, 2009 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Muskegon Thunder News Release


MUSKEGON - The Muskegon Thunder will be looking to a new head coach as it enters a new era in 2009. The third-year organization joins the Indoor Football League for the upcoming season, and it will rely on former assistant Brent White to negotiate the transition. Muskegon competed in the Continental Indoor Football League for the past two seasons under the direction of head coach Shane Fairfield. The Thunder compiled an overall record of 9-17 with two playoff appearances during Fairfield's tenure.

White plans to continue building the modestly successful franchise into a consistent winner.

"Our goal as a team and organization is to compete for a division championship and make the playoffs, stated White, who recently got engaged to fiancé Tatyana Franklin. "Everyone's long-term goal is to win a championship. The Muskegon Thunder is going to concentrate on the short-term goals that make players into champions."

New Kid On The Block

White, 24, has been coaching since his high school graduation in 2003 at age 18. He began at Holton High School that fall as an assistant, but quickly caught the eye of Fairfield, then the top man for the varsity. First Fairfield bumped White to junior varsity head coach, before eventually promoting him to varsity offensive coordinator before season's end.

"I had just come off of my senior season at Muskegon High and had the best coaching available (including Fairfield) in the veer offense," said White, who was an outstanding offensive lineman with the Big Reds. "I was a gym rat at Muskegon and I popped into every skill position meeting I could. I loved Muskegon High football and I knew the offense really well. So the transition was very natural for me, after I figured out how to handle personnel."

While with Holton, White directed a record-setting attack that helped the school achieve its first-ever back-to-back MHSAA playoff appearances. The Red Devils averaged 42 points per game over White's five years there, shattering the school's single-season mark with 431 points scored in 2006.

Dynamic Duo

White then followed Fairfield to the professional ranks, serving as Fairfield's offensive coordinator both years, guiding the Thunder to an average of 38.3 points per game. The team eclipsed the 50-point plateau on six occasions and produced CIFL offensive standouts like quarterbacks Steve Wasil and Dan Richard, receivers Richard Gills and Derek Hawthorne along with running backs Preston Garrris and Brent Lesniak.

White's prior responsibilities included director of player personnel, where he spent countless hours recruiting potential players. Those networking skills have come in handy as he pieces together a full roster for the first time.

"Being the offensive coordinator for the last two years prepared me to be a head coach in the IFL because it allowed me to have complete control over a very specific number of players. I was fortunate that Coach Fairfield allowed me to basically run the offensive side of the ball when it came to play calling, practice plans, personnel decisions, and player recruitment. After handling all the issues on a smaller scale, I am ready to now handle things on a much broader scale."

All told, White and Fairfield have spent nearly a decade working together.

"Shane taught me a lot about how to build and maintain a successful program," said White of his long-time mentor, who stepped down as Thunder coach this season to pursue a return to a head coaching position at the prep level. "I learned a lot about the overall motivation of players...the work ethic of a coach and time it takes as a coach in order to be successful.

"Fairfield has a motor that never stops running and a competitive edge that very few can match. He has showed me how to instill that into your players and inspire them to do great things."

White will need some of that inspiration as he relearns the indoor game once again this spring. Gone is the 7-on-7 brand of football he plotted and schemed for in the CIFL, as the IFL's more wide-open style of 8-on-8 comes to town.

"The 8-on-8 game is geared much more towards the offensive side of the ball. In the CIFL, there were not as many restrictions placed on the defense because the CIFL wanted the game to be more like the outdoor game. Not to mention, the 8-man style, with two men in motion, really limits the amount of things you can do defensively. This 8-man style is a really unique interpretation of football and I know the fans will really enjoy it."

Lightning Rod

Stopping the other teams in the 19-team league will be someone else's concern. That someone is veteran AFL coach Rod Miller, who will serve as a defensive consultant with the Thunder. Miller brings a wealth of experience to complement White's relative youth. Last season, he handled the roles of football operations manager and assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Rampage. The Rampage are idled this season as the AFL has suspended operations, so Miller was happy to stay involved during the down time.

"After meeting with the Pringle Family and Coach White, I felt that this was just a good fit for myself and the Thunder organization," said Miller. "I liked the family atmosphere of the organization."

The North Omaha, Neb., native has held the titles of head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and director of player personnel among others. His indoor duties have taken him on a criss-cross tour of the United States, including stops in Kansas City (MO), Green Bay (WI), Greenville (SC), and Omaha (NE). He has also coached collegiately at Simpson College, Kentucky State University, and Tyler (TX) Junior College.

Miller's job with the Thunder has brought his coaching career full circle as Muskegon joins the league that also features the Omaha Beef, a team he coached in 2007.

"Having been a former head coach in the UIF (now the IFL) I felt that I could help with the Thunder's transition from 7-man to 8-man indoor football and also be successful on and off the field," added Miller, a proud father of daughters Brianna and Marianna. "Also, being able to stay in the West Michigan area and the Rampage community was an added bonus."

He Walks The Line

Also named to the staff as offensive line coach was former Thunder player Mike Wilford. The former two-time All-American (2001, 2003) at Grand Valley State University played as a tackle for the Division II national champion Lakers in 2003.

Wilford prepped at Stevensville Lakeshore, where he was tabbed All-State in both football and wrestling and was chosen to play in the Michigan high school All-Star game after his senior year. He then attended the University of Nebraska for two years before transferring to GVSU.

He was a member of the inaugural Thunder squad in 2007 before heading over to CIFL rival Kalamazoo last season.

"I am very excited about the upcoming season and the potential roster," noted the 29-year-old Benton Harbor native. "I am also excited at the opportunity to work professionally with Coach White and Coach Miller."

Muskegon Thunder 2009 Schedule

Mar. 13 SAGINAW

Mar. 28 BLOOMINGTON

Apr. 4 @ Rochester

Apr. 10 @ Saginaw

Apr. 17 ROCHESTER

Apr. 24 MARYLAND

May 1 SAGINAW

May 9 @ Sioux Falls

May 15 @ Bloomington

May 23 SIOUX FALLS

May 30 @ Maryland

Jun. 6 RIVERCITY

Jun. 13 @ Maryland

Jul. 11 @ Rochester

HOME GAMES in all CAPS



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