Post by charlie on Apr 15, 2013 21:01:14 GMT -5
The Kansas Koyotes have fired head coach Troy Biladeau and have re-hired Jim Green, the team announced Monday.
The Koyotes are 1-4 in their first season in the newly-formed Champions Professional Football League. Biladeau was in his third season with the Koyotes after previous stints with several indoor teams.
"It was surprising, especially five games into the season," Biladeau said. "As a coach, you want a year to be judged. The team was semi-pro for 10 years, and when you bump up to a new league, it's going to take some time. There's still a lot of games. When I was at Quad City (Ill.) we started 2-4 and we ended up making the playoffs. My first year here, we were 1-5 and then won four in a row and made the playoffs. I think that given time, we could have turned things around."
Koyotes co-owner Pat Park said it was important to make a change now so that Green and his team would have time to make a run at a playoff spot.
“We felt that a change was in order to still have a chance at the playoffs this season," Park said. “Coach Biladeau did a fantastic job of assembling a group of very talented players. He is a very strong recruiter. We’re hoping that coach Green can build on that and bring the group together as a team and deliver a strong finish to the season.”
Green is the winningest coach in Koyotes history. In five years with the team he went 42-12 and won three APFL championships.
“I am excited to get a chance to be a part of this organization,” Green said. "I know I can truly redefine the word champion on and off the field.”
Biladeau said he got an inkling Sunday, after Friday's 56-28 loss to the Kansas City Renegades, that his job could be in trouble.
"(Koyotes co-owner Nick Baumgartner) called me on Sunday and he said he wanted to meet with Pat and me at the office," Biladeau said. "I looked at my wife and said, 'I'm getting fired.' Then I went and talked to them and they said they we're making a change.
"My biggest thing is not being able to finish what you start. I recruited all these players. Especially with going to a new league with new owners, with my resume, I thought I at least deserved a year. I'm just kind of disappointed I only got five games. I will coach indoor football again and I would like to thank my players for all their hard work.”
Co-defensive coordinator Mike VandeVelde and special teams coach Jarrod Rogol were also let go.
The Koyotes' next home game is April 27 at Landon Arena when they take on the Bloomington Edge.
cjonline.com/sports/2013-04-15/koyotes-fire-biladeau-after-five-games