Steamwheelers Add Legendary Bettendorf Coaches Merv Habenicht and John Lavelle As Volunteer Coaches
November 29, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
(Davenport, IA) - The Quad City Steamwheelers announced today that head coach Sean Ponder has added Merv Habenicht and John Lavelle to the coaching staff as volunteer coaches.
"When I was hired one of the things I promised the front office was that I would bring in high-quality assistant coaches," said Ponder. "The addition of Merv (Habenicht) and John (Lavelle) has solidified what I think is the best coaching staff in the af2."
Habenicht was the legendary high school coach that led the Bettendorf (IA) Bulldogs to five state titles, including back-to-back championships in 1987-88 and 1991-92. In addition to the State Championships in 87-88 and 91-92, Habenicht also led the Bulldogs to a State Championship in 1981 and 15 total playoff appearances. The Fort Dodge, Iowa native earned many awards and recognition during his tenure at Bettendorf including induction into the Iowa Football Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Quad City Times Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
Joining Habenicht on the Steamwheelers coaching staff will be his longtime assistant coach, John Lavelle. Lavelle spent 30 years working with the Bettendorf football program and also spent time coaching at Rock Island High School. The Western Illinois graduate was named the Iowa Football Coaches Associations "Assistant Coach of the Year" in 1991.
Habenicht is expected to help coach the nose guards and linebackers, while Lavelle will assist with the defensive ends.
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