Post by Banana Cat on Oct 23, 2011 6:19:32 GMT -5
www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20111022/GPG0211/110220541/Arena-football-Blizzard-coach-Richards-resigns
Blizzard coach Richards resigns
Oct. 21, 2011
Written by Weston Hodkiewicz / Green Bay Press-Gazette
The 2011 IFL franchise of the year will enter next season without one of the cogs that got it there.
Green Bay Blizzard coach Rik Richards has stepped down after two seasons with the organization to pursue other opportunities.
Richards came to the Blizzard in November 2009, leading the team's transition into the Indoor Football League from now-defunct arenafootball2. In his two seasons, Richards led the Blizzard to a 21-7 record and a pair of division titles and helped advance the team's first player, linebacker Maurice Simpkins, onto the roster of the Green Bay Packers.
This past season, Green Bay advanced to the IFL United Conference championship game before falling to eventual league champion Sioux Falls. After the season, the team was selected as the IFL's franchise of the year.
Richards isn't certain what his future holds in coaching, but said he takes pride in the 82-36 record he's compiled during his career.
"It's been a good two years here, but it's time to move on and see what else the future holds," Richards said. "You have to take it year by year, but at 35 now, I'm not exactly the 26-year-old youngest coach out there anymore. When I was hired as a head coach, I never knew it would last this long or have as much success as we've had. It's bittersweet because we didn't finish what we started, but they'll be in good hands. It'll be fun to watch from a afar and see how (Blizzard COO) Art (Clarkson) and the boys do."
The organization said it plans to name a new coach in the next two weeks.
Oct. 21, 2011
Written by Weston Hodkiewicz / Green Bay Press-Gazette
The 2011 IFL franchise of the year will enter next season without one of the cogs that got it there.
Green Bay Blizzard coach Rik Richards has stepped down after two seasons with the organization to pursue other opportunities.
Richards came to the Blizzard in November 2009, leading the team's transition into the Indoor Football League from now-defunct arenafootball2. In his two seasons, Richards led the Blizzard to a 21-7 record and a pair of division titles and helped advance the team's first player, linebacker Maurice Simpkins, onto the roster of the Green Bay Packers.
This past season, Green Bay advanced to the IFL United Conference championship game before falling to eventual league champion Sioux Falls. After the season, the team was selected as the IFL's franchise of the year.
Richards isn't certain what his future holds in coaching, but said he takes pride in the 82-36 record he's compiled during his career.
"It's been a good two years here, but it's time to move on and see what else the future holds," Richards said. "You have to take it year by year, but at 35 now, I'm not exactly the 26-year-old youngest coach out there anymore. When I was hired as a head coach, I never knew it would last this long or have as much success as we've had. It's bittersweet because we didn't finish what we started, but they'll be in good hands. It'll be fun to watch from a afar and see how (Blizzard COO) Art (Clarkson) and the boys do."
The organization said it plans to name a new coach in the next two weeks.