Rush extends contracts of assistant coaches
April 14, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Chicago Rush announced today that it has extended the contracts of its three assistant coaches, Walt Housman, Dave Witthun and Brian Schwartze, through the 2005 AFL season.
"We are proud of what our coaching staff has accomplished," said Rush senior vice president/general manager Mike Polisky. "We've been in the playoffs for three-straight seasons and, with the team currently at 7-2, it looks like we are headed in the right direction."
Rush head coach Mike Hohensee also is signed through the 2005 season.
Housman, the team's assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and line coach, is in his sixth year with Hohensee, having spent two years with him in New England before coming to Chicago in 2001. Under Housman's influence the Rush defense ranks fourth in the AFL in both total defense and scoring defense this season. The offensive line leads the league in fewest sacks allowed (3), while the defense ranks second in the AFL in sacks (14).
Witthun, the team's director of player personnel, special teams coordinator and fullbacks/linebackers coach, joined the staff in October 2001 after spending two seasons coaching in af2. This season the Rush special teams are tied for the league lead, having returned four kicks for touchdowns. Last season, the Rush tied for the league lead with seven kickoffs returned for touchdowns. In addition the Rush special teams have blocked six extra-point attempts, returning three of them for two-point conversions.
Wide receivers and defensive backs coach Schwartze is in his first season with the Rush after spending the previous two seasons with the New Jersey/Las Vegas Gladiators. He has managed to keep the team's secondary playing well (ranked second in the AFL in pass defense) despite injuries to seven defensive backs.
The Rush (7-2) travels to San Jose this week to play the SaberCats (7-2) Friday night. The team returns home on Sunday, April 25, at 2 p.m. against the Los Angeles Avengers. Fans wishing to purchase individual game tickets to the LA game, or any Rush 2004 home game, may order by calling Ticketmaster at (312) 559-1212, or by visiting the Ticketmaster Web site at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets also may be purchased in person at any Ticketmaster outlet or the Allstate Arena box office.
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