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Rampage Name 2008 Coaching Staff

September 4, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS - Having named Steve Thonn as their fifth head coach in team history earlier this month, the Grand Rapids Rampage announced the remaining three members of their coaching staff who will help guide the Arena Football League team in 2008. Beginning Sept. 16, Ron Selesky will become Grand Rapids' defensive coordinator and director of player personnel, Darrin Kenney will take over as the offensive and defensive line coach, and Paul Reinke will assume the role of special teams coach and fullbacks/linebackers coach.

Selesky arrives in Grand Rapids having spent the last two seasons (2006-07) as the head coach of the arenafootball2's Alabama Steeldogs. He began his AFL coaching career as the director of player personnel and assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Storm from 1997-99, helping to lead the team to a 31-11 regular-season mark and a 1998 ArenaBowl appearance. Additionally, he served as head coach for the Buffalo Destroyers in 2003, defensive coordinator and interim head coach of the Carolina Cobras in 2004, and defensive coordinator of the Columbus Destroyers in 2005.

A former member of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, Selesky also served as the head coach of the af2's Louisville Fire in 2001, and earned af2 Coach of the Year honors in 2002 after leading the Albany Conquest to a 13-3 regular-season mark and a Northeast Division title.

"Ron has great experience at the player personnel position," said Thonn. "He has a terrific reputation as a coach who will work hard to find the right players. Ron has also become an excellent defensive coordinator. Even as a head coach over the last two years he focused on calling defensive plays."

Kenney joins the Rampage having spent the last three seasons (2005-07) as the offensive and defensive line coach for the Nashville Kats. Over that span, his team's defenses have led the AFL in sacks twice (2005-06) and ranked in the top five in yards allowed twice (2006-07). Meanwhile, Kenney's offensive line helped pave the way for Nashville fullback Dan Alexander, who last season smashed the AFL's single-season record for rushing touchdowns with 41.

The former AFL lineman played 11 years (1993-95, 1997-2003) in the league, reaching the AFL's semifinal round every season and earning ArenaBowl titles with the Tampa Bay Storm in 1993, the Arizona Rattlers in 1997 and the San Jose SaberCats in 2002. Kenney also spent one season (2004) as a color analyst on Philadelphia Soul radio broadcasts before embarking on his coaching career.

"It's great to have an experienced Arena Football lineman who has excelled both as a player and a coach," said Thonn. "Darrin's teams have had success both protecting their quarterbacks and rushing the football."

Reinke most recently worked with Thonn on the Georgia Force coaching staff in 2006, when he served as the team's fullbacks/linebackers and assistant special teams coach. That season, the Force allowed the fewest yards per kickoff return (14.7) of any team in the AFL. Reinke's Arena Football coaching experience also includes two seasons (2003-04) as the fullbacks/linebackers coach of the Green Bay Blizzard of arenafootball2.

"Paul's a young, enthusiastic, hard-working coach who has done a great job with special teams over three seasons in Arena Football," said Thonn. "He is an expert at breaking down film and finding other teams' weaknesses."

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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