Post by Banana Cat on Nov 16, 2011 18:52:12 GMT -5
It says he was inducted into the minor league sports hall of fame, but not what for. Everyone knows you can buy yourself into that anyway, so as accomplishments go that's not saying anything.
His overall record is pumped up by his time coaching semi-pro teams, his pro-indoor record isn't stellar to say the least. Good news for him is that all the other Southern teams are expansion as well, so he's sort of on an equal footing, especially since most of those Southern expansion teams are LEAGUE OWNED and won't be run as well as individually owned teams.
I suspect him working as the head coach is probably just a cost cutting move as well.
www.theledger.com/article/20111115/NEWS/111119516/1002/SPORTS?Title=Indoor-Football-Mink-Set-to-Drive-Lakeland-Raiders-During-Inaugural-Season-&tc=ar
His overall record is pumped up by his time coaching semi-pro teams, his pro-indoor record isn't stellar to say the least. Good news for him is that all the other Southern teams are expansion as well, so he's sort of on an equal footing, especially since most of those Southern expansion teams are LEAGUE OWNED and won't be run as well as individually owned teams.
I suspect him working as the head coach is probably just a cost cutting move as well.
www.theledger.com/article/20111115/NEWS/111119516/1002/SPORTS?Title=Indoor-Football-Mink-Set-to-Drive-Lakeland-Raiders-During-Inaugural-Season-&tc=ar
Mink Set to Drive Lakeland Raiders During Inaugural Season
By Del Milligan / THE LEDGER
November 15, 2011
LAKELAND | Michael Mink has been multi-tasking the past two months, preparing the Lakeland Raiders for their first season in the Ultimate Indoor Football League as the team's founder, co-owner and general manager.
Mink put on yet one more hat Tuesday afternoon, becoming the Raiders' head coach.
"When you start building a Corvette, why give the keys away?'' said Mink, who lives in Palm Harbor but spends four days a week in Lakeland, staying at the Hampton Inn Lakeside.
There were eight candidates who applied for the head coaching position, Mink said.
"I wanted to see how the opening went and how it affected my weekends and my time,'' said Mink, a father of two daughters ages 9 and 5. "They said, ‘Daddy, you've got to do it.'''
Mink, 45, has coached five seasons in indoor arena football leagues with five teams, compiling a 37-22 career record. He also co-founded the American Indoor Football Association and was a co-owner and general manager.
Mink was announced as coach at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Raiders at The Lakeland Center on Tuesday, with about 100 people on hand. The team will play all home games at The Lakeland Center, starting March 10.
One of the fans was Alice Hunt of Lakeland, representing the board of directors for the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce.
"I'm a personal fan of indoor football, so this is exciting for me and my family,'' Hunt said.
The team, also co-owned by Robert Tannenbaum of Tampa, introduced some of its players and named assistant coaches and staff.
The Raiders' 36-man roster includes 11 players from Polk County high schools.
"They're going to see guys they can identify with,'' said Mink, who drives a Dodge Durango wrapped in Raiders colors.
Troy Johnson, Josh Smith, Kendrick Stewart, Jamar Taylor and Leon Covington are from Lakeland High. Brodie Bulloch and Rashad Battles are from Lake Gibson. Julius McClellan and James Lovett Jr. are Kathleen graduates, Matthew Wells is from Lake Region, and William McDonald will represent Mulberry.
Assistant coaches include Matt Grothe Sr., whose son Matt Grothe Jr. plays quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League, and George Terrell, a Lake Gibson graduate.
"I'm really looking forward to coaching pro football,'' said Matt Grothe Sr., who has coached at the high school level and will be the quarterbacks and special teams coach.
Mink previously coached the Gulf Coast Raiders, a Tampa team in the Southern States Indoor Football League, to a 9-1 record in 2005, then led the Montgomery Maulers of the AIFL to the playoffs in 2006. The Maulers lost to the Lakeland Thunderbolts in the playoffs that season. He also coached the Carolina Speed, Ogden (Utah) Knights and Yakima (Wash.) Valley Warriors.
Mink is optimistic about the Raiders' inaugural season.
"We're going to win a lot of football games. This is going to be a championship program,'' Mink said.
The team is selling season tickets for $59-$140 as well as box seats, and looking for sponsorships.
Jessica Gary, the team's ticket manager, said sales received a bump from fans of the former Thunderbolts, who averaged 2,000 fans per game at The Lakeland Center from 2005-07.
By Del Milligan / THE LEDGER
November 15, 2011
LAKELAND | Michael Mink has been multi-tasking the past two months, preparing the Lakeland Raiders for their first season in the Ultimate Indoor Football League as the team's founder, co-owner and general manager.
Mink put on yet one more hat Tuesday afternoon, becoming the Raiders' head coach.
"When you start building a Corvette, why give the keys away?'' said Mink, who lives in Palm Harbor but spends four days a week in Lakeland, staying at the Hampton Inn Lakeside.
There were eight candidates who applied for the head coaching position, Mink said.
"I wanted to see how the opening went and how it affected my weekends and my time,'' said Mink, a father of two daughters ages 9 and 5. "They said, ‘Daddy, you've got to do it.'''
Mink, 45, has coached five seasons in indoor arena football leagues with five teams, compiling a 37-22 career record. He also co-founded the American Indoor Football Association and was a co-owner and general manager.
Mink was announced as coach at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Raiders at The Lakeland Center on Tuesday, with about 100 people on hand. The team will play all home games at The Lakeland Center, starting March 10.
One of the fans was Alice Hunt of Lakeland, representing the board of directors for the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce.
"I'm a personal fan of indoor football, so this is exciting for me and my family,'' Hunt said.
The team, also co-owned by Robert Tannenbaum of Tampa, introduced some of its players and named assistant coaches and staff.
The Raiders' 36-man roster includes 11 players from Polk County high schools.
"They're going to see guys they can identify with,'' said Mink, who drives a Dodge Durango wrapped in Raiders colors.
Troy Johnson, Josh Smith, Kendrick Stewart, Jamar Taylor and Leon Covington are from Lakeland High. Brodie Bulloch and Rashad Battles are from Lake Gibson. Julius McClellan and James Lovett Jr. are Kathleen graduates, Matthew Wells is from Lake Region, and William McDonald will represent Mulberry.
Assistant coaches include Matt Grothe Sr., whose son Matt Grothe Jr. plays quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League, and George Terrell, a Lake Gibson graduate.
"I'm really looking forward to coaching pro football,'' said Matt Grothe Sr., who has coached at the high school level and will be the quarterbacks and special teams coach.
Mink previously coached the Gulf Coast Raiders, a Tampa team in the Southern States Indoor Football League, to a 9-1 record in 2005, then led the Montgomery Maulers of the AIFL to the playoffs in 2006. The Maulers lost to the Lakeland Thunderbolts in the playoffs that season. He also coached the Carolina Speed, Ogden (Utah) Knights and Yakima (Wash.) Valley Warriors.
Mink is optimistic about the Raiders' inaugural season.
"We're going to win a lot of football games. This is going to be a championship program,'' Mink said.
The team is selling season tickets for $59-$140 as well as box seats, and looking for sponsorships.
Jessica Gary, the team's ticket manager, said sales received a bump from fans of the former Thunderbolts, who averaged 2,000 fans per game at The Lakeland Center from 2005-07.
