Q&A with Georgia Force Head Coach Doug Plank

Published on May 11, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA – Last Sunday, first-year head coach DOUG PLANK led the Georgia Force to a 52-40 win over the Tampa Bay Storm to clinch the team's first-ever Southern Division championship. The Force became the first team in the Arena Football League to secure a playoff berth in the Drive to ArenaBowl XIX Las Vegas and currently hold the best record in the League at 10-4.

Plank, a former defensive coordinator with the Arizona Rattlers for the last three years, which included three consecutive trips to the ArenaBowl, has helped turn the Georgia franchise around in just one season. The Force have already eclipsed their record for most regular-season wins and have won more home games this season then the last two years combined. The Force will also be hosting the first-ever playoff game of any sport in the six-year history of Philips Arena when the AFL playoffs begin on May 29th.

The former Chicago Bear and Ohio State Buckeye, whom the famous Bears "46 Defense" was named after, answers a few questions as he prepares his team for the AFL playoffs:

How does it feel to win a Division Championship in your first season as a head coach?

"I never mentioned to the team at the beginning of the season that winning the Southern Division was the important thing because winning the division is only one step in getting to where this team ultimately wants to be. I think every team that is in this league should aspire to go to the ArenaBowl. I know this team has from the very first week and nothing has changed that goal. This win has not been that much different than any other we have had all season. I do not think there is anyone on this team that is satisfied winning just the Southern Division because they know what lies ahead."

This is a team whose turnaround has come in just one year with a lot of different pieces, both coaches and players. How can you explain the success coming so quickly?

"I think the main emphasis from the coaching staff to ownership to the players has been the concept of team rather than individuals. We did not try to go out and obtain superstars in and of themselves to build this club. We wanted players that would work and function within a team concept. During the offseason, there were decisions we had to make in building this football team and we wanted people that had character and showed the ability to interact and play well in a team environment, and those are the players we secured. Once you establish that atmosphere, it makes it easy when new players come in they learn from the existing players."

How has the transition from defensive coordinator to head coach been?

"I have always been taught that if you wanted to move up the ladder, if you wanted to advance yourself, start behaving like you are already at that position. The job description is irrelevant. It is taking on the responsibility of behaving like you have already obtained success at that position. The players on our team have taken that philosophy as well and used it on a daily basis. Whether they are a back-up or on practice squad, they have the mindset that they are a starter and that way they are capable of playing at a moments notice. We have had more injuries happen to us on this team than the bulk of teams in this league, but because the "can-do" mentality of everyone on this team, we have not missed a beat."

Throughout your football career, you had played under some legendary coaches (Woody Hayes, Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryan), what things have you incorporated into your coaching style from each of them?

"What I learned from Woody was organization -- Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan. I do not feel like he was a tremendous game day coach, but he did not have to be because he did everything from Monday through Friday to have his team prepared. He won because he had the organization in place. When players came into his system, he did not have to change anything."

"I learned all about communication from Mike. How important it is to be able to reach out and touch the players in a verbal fashion and let them know where you want them to go. Mike was tremendous in setting goals for our team. He was the first coach I ever heard mention the words ‘Super Bowl'. Some players laughed, but the team was there four years later. If you do not tell someone where you want to take them, they are not going to know how to get there."

"In Buddy, I learned the importance of teamwork. He had the unique ability to have players focus not on the individual, but we would only be successful as a unit. Especially from a defensive perspective, it only takes one breakdown for your team not to be successful. He continuously pounded in the concept and philosophy of teamwork. And not just on the field, he was a big believer that the players do things on and off the field. We became a much tighter unit when we starting caring about each other. I think the players on this Georgia Force team care for each other."

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 11, 2005

• Q&A with Georgia Force Head Coach Doug Plank - AFL I
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• Storm Able to Clinch Berth This Sunday - Tampa Bay Storm
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• Austin Wranglers game notes - Austin Wranglers
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