Rampage Turn to Bob Cortese

Published on August 21, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League on Thursday introduced Bob Cortese (kor-TEEZ) as the second head coach and director of football operations in franchise history. He replaces Michael Trigg, who resigned on Aug. 6 after six seasons at the Rampage helm.

Cortese, 61, brings six seasons of arena football experience, seven Coach of the Year awards, and more than three decades of involvement at the professional, collegiate and high school levels to Grand Rapids. In 32 seasons as a head coach, the Rochester, N.Y., native has compiled an overall record of 244-102-8 (0.701), including a 13-17 mark in two AFL seasons (2000-01) with the defunct Oklahoma Wranglers.

"We were flooded with resumes from some outstanding candidates over the last two weeks, but there were several things that put Bob at the head of the class," said Scott Gorsline, chief operating officer for DP Fox Sports and the Rampage. "Apart from the ability to win on the field, which is the most important, a market like Grand Rapids demands several other factors: a passion for the game; the ability and willingness to get out in the community and work with the media; and the ability to handle football operations, such as the salary cap issue and player contracts.

"We've come to know Bob very well over the last four years, through our management of franchises in Oklahoma City and Wichita," added Gorsline. "He has a proven track record, and we think he is the perfect choice to help the Rampage continue to be one of the AFL's premier franchises both on and off the field."

During their inaugural season in Oklahoma City, the Wranglers reached the AFL quarterfinals after battling through the league's toughest schedule. At the time, Cortese's club earned the distinction of becoming the lowest seed (#10) to ever win an AFL playoff game, authoring a 52-38 road upset of New England in the first round.

Cortese also spent two seasons (1998-99) as offensive coordinator for the Wranglers' predecessors, the Portland Forest Dragons, adding assistant head coach duties during his second year. In 1998, he helped Portland improve its scoring average by 17 points over the previous season, and his tutelage of rookie Oronde Gadsden helped the wide receiver develop into an All-Arena player and a fixture in the Miami Dolphins' lineup the last five seasons.

Most recently, Cortese served as head coach of the af2's Wichita Stealth during the 2003 season, earning a 4-3 record prior to resigning for personal reasons on May 20. He originally joined the Stealth as director of football operations and offensive coordinator four games into the 2002 season, helping an offense that had averaged 19.5 points per game post an average of 43 points over its final 12 games.

Although Cortese is renowned as an offensive coach, his defenses have made an impact as well. In 2000, his Oklahoma squad led the AFL in total defense (232.7 yards per game) and passing defense (222.1 ypg), while placing fifth in scoring defense (43.2 points per game).

"I appreciate that I have the opportunity to work for the Rampage, which I believe is one of the best organizations, one of the classiest organizations, in arena football," said Cortese. "I have a fire in my belly, and I want to bring this program back to the level it was in 2001. I have a tough act to follow in what coach Trigg and coach (Sparky) McEwen have done with the offense here, which has been very exciting and very successful over the years, and I look forward to meeting with coach McEwen about our offensive coordinator position."

Cortese began his head coaching career with four teams in the Colorado high school ranks (1968-79), showing an aggregate record of 88-28-2 with a state championship (1976) and two other appearances in the state finals.

His first major head coaching job came at Mesa State University in Colorado, where his teams posted an 84-22-3 record (0.784) from 1980-89. Cortese then led Fort Hays State University in Kansas to three NCAA Division II playoff berths and a cumulative 55-32-3 record (0.628) during his eight seasons as the Tigers' head coach (1990-97).

As a player, Cortese was a first-team All-American at Northeastern Junior College (1962-63) in Sterling, Colo., before playing center and linebacker for the University of Colorado (1964-65). In 1977, he returned to his alma mater for a two-year stint as an assistant coach.

Cortese, who earned a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Northern Colorado in 1973, has a long record of involvement with charitable organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the March of Dimes, Special Olympics, and the American Heart Association.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from August 21, 2003


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