'Wings move Green to defensive coordinator

Published on May 1, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings News Release


BOSSIER CITY - The Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings made a move to shore up their defense Saturday, just hours before departing for McAllen, Texas and a Monday night game with the Rio Grande Valley Dorados.

Mike Green, who started the season as receivers and defensive secondary coach for the 'Wings, was promoted to defensive coordinator to replace Richard Britt. Britt was earlier relieved of his duties with the organization.

"Basically, it was evident that we just didn't have everybody and everything headed in the right direction on defense," said head coach Keith Barefield, who a week earlier saw his moves on the offensive side of the ball produce the Battle Wings' highest offensive output of the year in an 86-66 loss to Amarillo. "Philosophically, there were some situations with Coach Britt that were conflicted. We just took the necessary steps to get everyone of a right mind and on the same page."

A Shreveport native, Green was a standout athlete at Huntington High School before moving on to Southern University where he was a team captain on the Jaguars' National Black Championshiop Team. Green played professionally in the CFL and AFL and was one of the top receivers on the 1995 Albany Firebirds squad that claimed their division crown. Green coaches and teaches geometry at his high school alma mater.

"Mike Green is one of the classiest people I've ever met," said Dan Newman, the operating partner of the Battle Wings' franchise. "He has a tons of integrity and I think the players relate very well to him. He knows the game inside out and he knows how to coach. I don't think we'll see anything but positive results from this move by Coach Barefield."

"Mike (Green) communicates very well with these players," Barefield added. "He's going to put them in a defensive scheme where they can succeed and use their athletic abilities. I think we'll see marked improvement in our defense the rest of the way."

Under Britt's guidance, the 'Wings' defense allowed 61.5 points per game, near the bottom of the league, and gave up a league-high 246 points. Last week against Amarillo, Bossier was torched for 474 yards total offense by the Dusters, a new af2 single-game record. Amarillo scored touchdowns on all 13 possessions against the Battle Wings, negating the offensive improvements produced with Barefield's quarterback move.

"I think it was pretty apparent the guys couldn't figure out exactly what it was they were supposed to do in the scheme Coach Britt was trying to teach," Newman added. "There was a difference in coaching philosophy. We fixed our problems on offense. Now I feel we've made a big step in fixing our defensive shortcomings."

The Battle Wings face off against Rio Grande Valley on Monday night at 7 p.m. in Hidalgo, Texas. The game will be broadcast locally on KWKH - 1130 AM and via the Internet on af2 TV. Bossier returns to the Century Tel Center next Saturday for a game against the Bakersfield Blitz. Kickoff for that contest is also scheduled for 7 p.m.

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