Stealth Head Coach Resigns
May 20, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release
Wichita, Kan. - The Wichita Stealth announced today that head coach Bob Cortese has resigned effective immediately. Coach Cortese cited personal reasons as the cause for his resignation. Volunteer assistant coach Sean Ponder has been named interim head coach and will take over for the rest of the 2003 season.
Under Cortese, the Stealth recorded their best start in franchise history at 4-1 before losing their last two games to fall to 4-3 on the season. Cortese led the Stealth offense to the 11th rank in scoring offense (45 pts. per game), 9th rank in total offense (249 yards per game), and 2nd in scoring (non-kick) offense (320 points on the season).
"These things happen in sports and the Stealth will proceed with the season," said Stealth general manager Mike McCoy.
In Cortese's stint with the Stealth last season, the offense went from 34th in the league in scoring offense (19.5 points per game) to 31st (37.2 points per game), from 26th in total offense (208.5 yards per game) to 5th (267.3 yards per game), and in pass offense, the team improved from 23rd (188.5 per game) to 1st (254.7 yards per game).
Sean Ponder will take over the head coaching duties on an interim basis for the rest of the 2003 season. Before coming to the Stealth this season, Ponder served as the offensive coordinator at Orange Coast Community College in California.
STEALTH NOTES: The Stealth will finish their two game road trip this weekend when they travel to Peoria, Illinois to face the defending af2 champions, the Peoria Pirates (3-4)...The Stealth will return home next Saturday May 31 to face the Green Bay Blizzard (0-6)...Kick-off is 7:30 and tickets are available by calling the Stealth office at 316.755.3307.
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