Riptide Hire Tull as New President
June 17, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
SAN DIEGO â The San Diego Riptide announced the hiring of John Tull as the team's new president today at a press conference at the Sports Arena. Tull will take over all day-to-day operations of the team beginning immediately.
Tull, 40, brings with him more than 15 years of sports management experience, including time with the Fresno Falcons of the West Coast Hockey League (now part of the ECHL) and, most recently, Major Indoor Soccer's Milwaukee Wave. Tull boasts an exemplary track record of success at virtually every level of minor league sports, including the 2000-01 WCHL Executive of the Year Award. Under his guidance, the Falcons were also named WCHL Organization of the Year twice, in 2000-01 and 2001-02.
"John has a track record of great production in a myriad of sports and marketing capacities," said Ernie Hahn, the Riptide's principal owner. "We feel he can provide the experience and leadership necessary for the Riptide to be successful in San Diego."
Tull is a graduate of DePauw University in Greencastle, IN and earned a Masters in Sports Management from Indiana University in 1988. He began his career as a marketing executive with the South Bend White Sox of the Midwest League in 1988 before being named general manager of the Peninsula Pilots of the Carolina League in 1989. He served in management positions with several minor league baseball and hockey franchises for the next several years before being named president of the Fresno Falcons in 2000. In 2002 the Falcons won the WCHL's Taylor Cup Championship. Since September of 2003, Tull has served as the director of corporate development for the Milwaukee Wave.
"Arena Football is one of the fastest growing sports in America and I welcome the challenge of promoting arena football in San Diego," Tull said. "The Sports Arena has been the home of championship professional sports entertainment for more than 20 years. Our mission is to play championship caliber arena football while entertaining the fans from start to finish."
The Riptide have currently won three straight games after a 1-5 start and now find themselves back in the hunt for a playoff spot. Tull will look to continue improving the on-field product while solidifying the Riptide's place as a leader in the community.
"San Diego Riptide Football will be promoted as a cost efficient quality of life amenity for the sports fans of San Diego. Riptide football from this point forward will be committed to customer service and community service, our goal is to win on and off the field"
The Riptide head to Hawaii to take on the Islanders this Saturday. This will be a rematch of their May 28 matchup in which the Riptide defeated Hawaii, 91-77, in the highest scoring game in arenafootball2 history. The âTide returns home on June 26 for the first time in five weeks to take on the Bakersfield Blitz in a game that could determine first place in the division.
The June 26 game will be "Ball Cap Night" at the Sports Arena with Riptide hats going to the first 3,000 fans, courtesy of Sportsbook.com. Fans can purchase their tickets by logging on to Ticketmaster.com or by stopping by the Sports Arena box offices. All games can be heard on-line at WorldTalkRadio.com with Mark Rogondino calling the play-by-play.
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