Post by Gene on Sept 16, 2007 4:57:55 GMT -5
Copperheads hire Guidry as head coach
Former AFL assistant hopes to improve af2 team
The Texas Copperheads hired Ollie Guidry as their new head coach on Thursday after announcing that they did not renew the contract of former head coach Bryan Blake. Guidry, who served one year as an assistant coach with the AFL’s Austin Wranglers in 2007, will be the second coach in team history after the Copperheads struggled to a 2-14 season in 2007 under Blake.
“It’s good to come back home to Houston, being born here so many years ago and having family and friends in the area,” Guidry said. “I’m looking forward to building a competitive football team that will make us all proud to be a part of the Texas Copperheads organization.”
Guidry’s contract becomes effective September 15, when he will begin constructing his coaching staff and recruiting players for the team’s second year in the af2. With a wealth of experience in nearly every level of football, Guidry expects to revive an inconsistent offense that ranked near the basement in nearly every statistical category in 2007. Guidry said his first step will be to finalize a staff and set dates for several workout camps in late October.
“The biggest key, in the short amount of time that you have, is to get the right ingredients, which is the right football players and the right coaches, so everybody will come together as quickly as possible,” Guidry said.
Guidry enjoyed success in his last post as a head coach with the American Indoor Football League’s Reading Express, where he was named North Division’s Coach of the Year. The team won 12 straight in route to a 13-3 record and division title. He also served as general manager for the Express and recruited players that won ensuing league honors for offensive, defensive, special teams and lineman of the year awards and sent nine Express players to the AIFL all-star team.
Copperheads general manager Gary Saunders stated: “Ollie Guidry brings sound experience and a highly professional, no-nonsense approach to our organization. He has great connections throughout the football world and those connections should benefit us tremendously as we develop this still very young Af2 franchise. I have been quite impressed with Ollie's vision for the future and trust our fans and sponsors will rally behind him as we push for our first-ever AF2 playoff berth. We welcome him to the Copperheads family and look forward to big things in 2008 and beyond.”
Before coaching in Reading, Guidry was the head coach of the United Indoor Football League’s Evansville Bluecats, transforming a 1-14 squad into a playoff contender after his first year at the helm. Guidry has served in the NFL’s coaching program under current Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren and was an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of North Texas. He was also the director of football operations and recruiting coordinator at Heidelberg College and currently resides in Austin with his wife, Maike.
For media inquiries, please contact Saunders at 281-807-6000.
The Texas Copperheads are preparing for their second year in the af2, the developmental league for the Arena Football League.
www.texascopperheads.com/newsfeatures/recentnews/index.html?article_id=113
