Saginaw Sting Re-Sign Leveille & Townsend, Set Tryout Dates
Published on December 29, 2011 under Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Saginaw Sting News Release
Saginaw, MI - The Saginaw Sting indoor football team is pleased to announce the re-signing of Head Coach Vince Leveille and Defensive Coordinator Fred Townsend.
"Consistency is very important in a coaching staff and bringing back Vince as the head coach was going to be critical to our success this season," said Stuart Schweigert, co-owner of the Sting. "Vince did a wonderful job stepping in after game 3 last year and leading us to a UIFL Championship. He has a great report with the players and staff and I know he is committed to doing whatever he can to help us win a CIFL Championship in 2012. "
After being dubbed interim head coach last season and leading the Sting to a UIFL championship, the Sting ownership group knew that Vince would be in line to remove the interim tag from his title. "Vince showed a significant amount of perseverance last season," said Rob Licht, co-owner of the Sting. "His ability to overcome several obstacles along the way to a championship made our decision quite easy when seeking out a head coach for the future."
Returning in a familiar role as well will be defensive coordinator Fred Townsend. After assuming the interim head coaching position last season Leveille sought out Townsend to join his staff. "When we had a defensive opening last season I immediately thought of Coach Townsend," said Vince, "We had worked together at SVSU the prior season and I was always impressed with his preparation and knowledge of the game. He also had a great relationship with the players".
Vince, a two-time champion with the Sting, (including a CIFL championship in 2008 then as offensive coordinator) is originally from the Upper Pennisula, and attended Michigan Tech & Central Michigan University. Leveille previously coached high school football at Vassar and helped coach quarterbacks and receivers at Saginaw Valley State University. Vince is a high school math teacher at Vassar and operates his own fitness business, appropriately named "V" Fitness. Vince is married to his wife Traci and has two children, Alex and Jenna.
Coach Townsend played football at Central Michigan University and coached one year as a Graduate Assistant for the school as well. Fred then went on to coach as a football assistant at Sanford Meridian High School and Defensive Backs coach and Defensive Coordinator for Saginaw Heritage High School. "When I got involved last year with the Saginaw Sting Fred Townsend was someone I wanted on staff immediately. He was my defensive back coach in high school and I greatly respect his coaching ability and the way he interacts with his players," said Schweigert, "He is a coach that will treat the players with respect and hold them accountable."
After coaching Schweigert and former Saginaw Sting player Mike McFadden at Heritage. Coach Townsend also coached high school football for Muskegon, Bridgeport and most recently Arthur Hill. At Arthur Hill he led the football team to its first playoff appearance in over 20 years and first conference title in over 25 years. Coach Townsend took a break from high school coaching and became an ESPN analyst for the Saginaw Valley League High School football for three seasons and coached linebackers for Saginaw Valley State University for one year. Fred is married to his wife Shelley and has four children, Sequoyah, Brevin, Blake and Brock.
Rounding out the coaching staff will be Kevin Kienitz, a former assistant coach for Townsend at Arthur Hill for over six years and Corey Gonzales, a former Saginaw Sting player from the 2008 & 2009 seasons.
Single Game & Season Tickets are on sale now at The Dow Event Center box office or by calling 989.759.1330.
Tryouts are set to take place at Kokomo's Family Fun Center located at 5200 Kokomo Drive, Saginaw, MI 48604 (just west of Bay Rd. directly off of Tittabawassee Rd) on Sunday January 8th from 4PM - 6PM and Saturday January 14th from 9AM - 11AM. Tryouts are $40 by preregistering at www.saginawsting.com or $60 at the door and all participants will receive a Saginaw Sting Combine T-Shirt.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from December 29, 2011
- Saginaw Sting Re-Sign Leveille & Townsend, Set Tryout Dates - Saginaw Sting
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