Sean Ponder Named New Steamwheelers Head Coach
September 26, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
(Davenport, IA) - The Quad City Steamwheelers introduced Sean Ponder as the fourth head coach in team history today at a press conference.
"We are pleased to have Ponder as our head coach," said Larry Bush, CEO of the Steamwheelers. "After interviewing several highly qualified candidates, the ownership group felt that Ponder is the right person to lead this team back to another ArenaCup Championship. His enthusiasm and dedication to this organization is second to none."
Ponder, 36, joins the Steamwheelers staff as head coach after serving in the position of assistant coach/offensive coordinator during the 2006 season. Ponder brings three seasons of head coaching experience to the Steamwheelers.
While in the assistant coach/offensive coordinator role with the Steamwheelers last season, Ponder oversaw arguably the best offense in the af2. Ponder's offense was ranked first in both total offense (315.2 yards per game) and passing offense (298.4 yards per game). Under his leadership the offense also tied or established six team single-game and 10 team regular season records. Ponder oversaw an offense that had individuals set numerous game, season and career records last season as well.
The Huntington Beach, Calif., native received his first opportunity to be a head coach seven games into the 2003 season when he was appointed as the interim head coach for the Wichita Stealth. The Stealth, who was 4-3 at the time Ponder took over, went on to finish the season 8-7-1 and earned a playoff berth, before losing to the Hawaiian Islanders in the first round. After being named head coach in the off season the Stealth won their first five games and nearly made the playoffs finishing with an 8-8 record. The offense averaged nearly seven touchdowns a game during the 2004 season. He left the Stealth with a 12-12-1 overall record in his one and a half seasons as head coach.
In 2005 Ponder took over the reigns of the San Diego Riptide where he went 5-11 on the season. Under his oversight the Riptide averaged 251.8 yards a game, of which, 232.3 came through the air.
Ponder also brings multiple seasons as an assistant coach in the college ranks, where his teams set numerous offensive records.
"I am extremely excited to get to work as the head coach of the Steamwheelers," said Ponder. "This franchise is the top franchise in the af2. I plan to bring in a coaching staff and players that will help bring this franchise back to the top, where it belongs. The Quad City community is a great community and I look forward to coaching here and being a part of the community."
The franchises' previous head coaches were Frank Haege (2000-2001), Rich Ingold (2002-2004) and Rick Frazier (2005-2006).
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