Sparks Named Xplosion Head Coach
October 26, 2007 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Kalamazoo Xplosion News Release
The Kalamazoo Xplosion have named Mike Sparks head coach for the 2008 season. Sparks, who served as a the strength and conditioning coach in 2007, was appointed Friday, October 26th at Old Burdicks Bar & Grille by team owner Mike Johnson.
"We're very confident in Mike's ability to bring a championship to Kalamazoo. A piece of the puzzle that needed to get take care has been found," said Johnson.
Sparks not only strengthened the team physically, but was also known for his vocal leadership on the sidelines. He earned the respect of his players, and has extremely high expectations.
"We were within inches of getting to the championship game last year. We're not trying to upset the apple cart, but there were areas as a professional team that we needed to get better at. We're looking at trying to teach these guys the finer points of the game, and take us to the next level," said Sparks.
"I think he's going to be a great addition. We'll know what to expect from him and he knows what to expect from us and the league, so it should be fun," said Eric Gardner, who played wide receiver in 2007 but plans to play defensive back in 2008. Gardner was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 with the Battle Creek Crunch.
He also has the respect of the veterans on the team who, in this league, serve as mentors because of their playing experience and how long they've been around the game. Wide receiver Brian Dolph, one of the most seasoned veterans on the team, respects Sparks' coaching approaches and respects Johnson's decision to hire the emotional, player-friendly coach.
"It's a good choice. He's a very hands on, emotional coach. When he stepped onto the practice field we knew he meant business, and he played a big role in our success last year. There were a handful of games last year that we won at the end of fourth quarter because we were in great shape, and you have to attribute some of that to him," said Dolph, who was the leading receiver for the Xplosion in 2007. Dolph has played in the CIFL (GLIFL) for three years and played in the Arena Football League (AFL) for two. Before his professional career, Dolph was an All-American wide receiver at Saginaw Valley State University.
"Having veterans like (Brian) Dolph on the team is a great advantage. We had something special last year, our guys would coach the other players. It's not an ego thing with us, it's a team thing. My role this year is to be there to encourage that type of leadership," said Sparks, praising the veteran leadership of last year.
Sparks lettered in football at Hope College, where he won the Allen C. Kinney Award for maximum contribution. He majored in Communication and Physical Education with an emphasis in coaching.
He coached at Bellevue High School for seven years where he also served as the athletic director. In 2001, Sparks was hired at Olivet college as a defense assistant, and promoted to defensive coordinator in 2005; a position he still hold today. During the 2006 season, the Comet defense led the conference in nearly every defensive category and finished 19th in the country in rush defense. This season, his defense continues their domination, as they lead the MIAA in total defense.
His first duties as head coach will come December 9th when the team holds open tryouts for the 2008 season.
Quotes from head coach Mike Sparks:
"It's crucial to train even during the season. This game, with such a short field, athleticism is the key. Speed, lateral quickness, all of that is so essential to winning. I look back at the 2007 season and we had some amazingly athletic plays. I'm thinking of Gater at the top of his vertical jump one handing a ball in the end zone, those kinds of things help us become so competitive because our guys knew we had play makers and knew we were in tip-top shape. Because we trained so much as a team, they knew that someone would step up and make that big play, especially late in the game."
"We were within inches of getting to the championship game last year. We're not trying to upset the apple cart, but there were areas as a professional team that we needed to get better at. One thing is we need to be more imaginative in our kicking game. We have the Special Teams Player of the Year on our team in Brad Selent, and he was and under utilized weapon. This isn't my first time as a head coach, it's been a long time, and I was a young high school coach. I thought I knew everything, but found out I knew nothing. I've matured over the years and have a finer dealing with detail. When you work with pro athletes, I think thats what makes the difference. The fundamentals should never be a problem. We're looking at trying to teach these guys the finer points of the game."
"Having veterans like (Brian) Dolph on the team is a great advantage. We had something special last year, our guys would coach other players. It's not an ego thing with us, it's a team thing. We had offensive guys helping defensive guys and vice versa. My role this year is to be there to encourage that type of leadership. I don't coach for an ego, I'm hoping we can win a championship and rely on the guys to do those things to help us get to the next level."
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from October 26, 2007
- Xplosion Name Sparks Head Coach - OSC Original by Randy Snow
- Sparks Named Xplosion Head Coach - Kalamazoo Xplosion
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
