Express changes include new coach

[The Picks Commissioner]

www.readingeagle.com/re/sports/1612425.asp

Express changes include new coach
Reading Express defensive coordinator Kelly Logan replaces Ollie Guidry, who guided the team to a 13-3 record in its inaugural season. The Express opens play Sunday, Feb. 18, at Pittsburgh.

By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
The Reading Express rolls toward its second season in a league with a new name ready to face a few new opponents.

Now, less than two months before its indoor football season kicks off, the Express has learned it will have to go with a new coach.

Ollie Guidry, who guided the Express into the Northern Conference championship game during its inaugural season, resigned to accept a job as an assistant coach with the Austin Wranglers of the Arena Football League.

Guidry has been replaced by Kelly Logan, the defensive coordinator for last year's Express team that went 13-3 after a 1-2 start.

Guidry also doubled as the general manager, a position expected to be filled by assistant general manager Bernie Nowotarski.

Nowotarski, a former Exeter and Kutztown University standout, said the promotions of Logan and himself were a natural progression for which the franchise planned.

“It's just coming earlier than expected,” Nowotarski said. “It's a year earlier than expected.”

Guidry was hired as the Express' first coach last year. Through his indoor football accomplishments and contacts, Guidry brought instant credibility to the Reading franchise.

Guidry brought in talented players from his previous stops to mix with local players such as wide receivers Carmelo Ocasio and Ian Cooper of Reading High and defensive players Matt Sola of Central Catholic and Luis Figueroa of Wilson.

“He definitely is a large figure in the indoor game with all his contacts and definitely will be missed,” Nowotarski said.

Nowotarski said, however, that many of the players who helped Reading win the Northern Conference regular season title last year have expressed interest in returning.

Logan, who reportedly signed a three-year contract, is on vacation and not expected to return until January, Nowotarski said.

The Express, which played in the American Indoor Football League last season, is scheduled to open play in the American Indoor Football Association Sunday, Feb. 18, at Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh RiverRats and Danville (Ill.) Demolition are two new teams in the Northern Conference, joining Reading, the Johnstown Riverhawks, Canton Legends, Huntington (W.Va.) Heroes and Erie Freeze.

Reading also will play two games against Southern Conference teams, traveling to the Tallahassee Titans March 3 and playing the Montgomery (Ala.) Bears at the Sovereign Center April 28.

In addition, Reading will play a home game March 10 against the Baltimore Blackbirds, giving the Express eight home games, one more than last year.

Ticket prices decrease: Despite an extra home game, prices for season tickets have been lowered, along with prices for single-game tickets, Nowotarski said.

Season tickets range from $44 to $158 for a club seat with a parking pass. Single-game prices range from $7 to $25.

Nowotarski said those prices are subject to change in the next few weeks.

On the move: The Express will hold its final tryout camp for the 2007 season Saturday, Jan. 6, from 7-9 p.m. at Grand Slam Sports Complex, Old Pricetown Road.

Grand Slam is the Express' new official workout facility. Last season, the Express held its tryout camps and practices at Body Zone Sports and Wellness Complex.

The Express also has moved on the Internet to expressindoorfootball.com.

[Gene]

[The Picks Commissioner]

The Reading Eagle show you guys no love Gene???

[Gene]

riverhawk452 said:

The Reading Eagle show you guys no love Gene???

The Eagle, for the most part, only print the negative things. The topics within this story wont do anything positive in the way of attracting more season ticket holders. On top of that you have a traveling team in Baltimore and in talking with some Royals fans they either arent renewing seasons or will just buy single game tickets.The Express shoulda leaked this out via their website 1st. I knew this 3 weeks ago and i dont even have anything to do with the organization. Just makes the whole thing seem underhanded.........

[Tatonka]

I notice they didn't mention Logan's job inbetween his current one and this one. I guess the Express didn't point that out...

Congrats to Bernie and to Coach Logan though, that's what this is all about in the end. Guidry got "moved up" based on his team's performance last season, and those two are getting a chance to replace him and show their stuff.

It has been known for awhile though, wonder why it took so long to come out. Makes 'em look like they are almost starting over with the season only 2 months away.

[Canton Cougar Fan]

This has been my point for several weeks now. When you release no information at all, people forget about you. I'm seriously wooried about those teams who chose to stay silent during the off season.

It doesn't have to be a big announcement, just something saying, "Hey! We're still here and we'll be playing again in February."

[The Picks Commissioner]

That what I was thinking with the Riverhawks. It's December soon to be January and we have no announcement of any signings.

[Coach Bernie]

guys there are reasons for everything... there were reasons for each move and release and as in anything sometimes you can only do or say so much until another time

[Gene]

btnexpress said:

guys there are reasons for everything... there were reasons for each move and release and as in anything sometimes you can only do or say so much until another time

I thought the article said you got promoted to GM, not a politician.......

[Canton Cougar Fan]

btnexpress said:

guys there are reasons for everything... there were reasons for each move and release and as in anything sometimes you can only do or say so much until another time

I agree that you can only do so much ... but nothing?

There are reasons for everything and hopefully those teams that chose to do nothing, as far as dessemination of information, now know why there won't be any asses in the seats come opening day.

[Coach Bernie]

it was not nothing....information wasn't being held away from anyone...final decisions were not made until late last friday (officially) so information was released this week , we went public on tuesday ,only a few days after actual decisions were made....there are still circumstances, that sometimes things have to wait a little

[Canton Cougar Fan]

I could be wrong, I'm just a fan looking from the outside in. However, in my opinion ...

I understand signings and details and it's not official until it's official. You certainly don't want to release something and then come back with a retraction. That would certainly get you more negative press.

However, from a fan's point of view, no information is bad news. There are off season appearances, local stories, high school football, college football, what are your favorite players doing in the off season, interviews with front office staff, etc. Especially when rumors get going that a franchise will fold, someone needs to say something.

My point is, unless you give people a reason to keep coming back to, at least, your website, they will forget about you. The teams in this league needed to start ramping up the hype in December (2 months before the season starts) and create the excitement that hits it's crescendo at the home opener.

That has not been done. However, front offices still believe that they will have a full house for their home opener. I don't understand the logic.

[Gene]

themanthemyth said:

I could be wrong, I'm just a fan looking from the outside in. However, in my opinion ...

I understand signings and details and it's not official until it's official. You certainly don't want to release something and then come back with a retraction. That would certainly get you more negative press.

However, from a fan's point of view, no information is bad news. There are off season appearances, local stories, high school football, college football, what are your favorite players doing in the off season, interviews with front office staff, etc. Especially when rumors get going that a franchise will fold, someone needs to say something.

My point is, unless you give people a reason to keep coming back to, at least, your website, they will forget about you. The teams in this league needed to start ramping up the hype in December (2 months before the season starts) and create the excitement that hits it's crescendo at the home opener.

That has not been done. However, front offices still believe that they will have a full house for their home opener. I don't understand the logic.

I totally agree with that. I dont single out the Express with this either, its a league wide problem. Come the offseason it seems as if these front offices are both shut down and "too busy" to communicate with the fans. The amazing thing is they arent too busy during the season, which would seem to me to be the busiest time? If i owned a team i would be available 24/7. Its a business and thats the way they have to be run. I know, i had 2 businesses of my own. Customer service will do alot in improving these teams images. Till then, they'll be scraping the bottom of the barrell in the attendance department..........