Rampage Announce Robert Lyles as Assistant Head Coach

Published on September 30, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


The Grand Rapids Rampage Arena Football team have named Robert Lyles the team's Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator.

Lyles, a former Texas Christian University standout linebacker, played eight seasons in the National Football League with the Houston Oilers (1984-89) and the Atlanta Falcons (1990-91), took over the Los Angeles coaching duties four games into the season for Stan Brock, guiding the Avengers to a 5-6 record. He was the head coach of the Georgia Force for the first five games of 2002.

"I wanted my hiring of our defensive coordinator to be a big one, and from the standpoint of what's available in the AFL coaching market for assistant head coaches/defensive coordinators, this is the best," Rampage head coach Sparky McEwen said of Lyles.

"Working in NFL training camps the past six seasons, Lyles brings along with him the opportunity of signing a tremendous amount of NFL-type prospects, opening up the doors to the pool of NFL free agents," McEwen said.

Lyles has spent the past six seasons working in NFL training camps under the NFL's Minority Coach Fellowship Program. Current NFL head coaches Herman Edwards (New York Jets) and Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati Bengals) have also taken part in the program.

"Being a rookie head coach, it was important for me to have someone on my coaching staff that had been there before as a head coach and had success," McEwen said. "He will bring something we have looked for a long time here and that's a defense with character -- an aggressive, hard-nosed defense.

Under Lyles, the Avengers in 2001 finished No. 1 in the AFL in total defense (allowing an average of 249.4 yards per game) and No. 2 in passing defense (231.5 yards). Los Angles was also No. 1 in points allowed per game (39.3).

The Rampage suffered through their worst season in the franchise's seven-year history last season with a 1-15 record. The offense also ranked last among the 19 teams and the defense wasn't too far behind.

Grand Rapids ranked 18th in total defense (277.1 yards per game), 16th in passing defense (254.8) and last in average points allowed (54.4).

"We have a big challenge ahead of us considering what happened in Grand Rapids last season, but I'm excited and I'm looking forward to working with coach McEwen," Lyles said. "We will be aggressive defensively, flying to the football while bringing a lot of intensity.

"I'm an emotional-type guy who isn't afraid to take chances. I plan on coming in and having teams around the league take notice to what we're doing defensively as well as on special teams."

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from September 30, 2004


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