Gaunt named Def. Coord

[Gene]

Gaunt named Def. Coord

Hellertown, PA .9/20/2007

The Outlawz are proud to announce that they have agreed to terms with Defensive Coordinator Steve Gaunt.
Steve comes to the Outlawz from the Reading Express of the much maligned AIFL/AIFL/AIFA. Steve has been the Defensive Coordinator of the Year for the past two seasons. But, along with back-to-back Head Coaches of the Year, the Express were unable to keep either. Reading's loss will be Lehigh Valley's gain. A full bio will be posted shortly.
Under Coach Gaunt, his defense allowed the least points and led in many defensive categories. Unfortunately, since the team stopped posting stats after the third game, exact figures are not available.
The Outlawz struggled last season with an array of problems on the defensive side of the ball; including injuries, ineffective scheme, personal disruptions and poor coaching. This proved to be a problem against Rochester and New England, who accounted for 4 of the 5 losses.
We welcome Coach Gaunt to the Outlawz and look forward to a much more disciplined, aggressive defense in 2008. The Outlawz Kickoff the 2008 Season in March. Look for an exciting Home Opener on March 22 at the Stabler Arena.

[exit322]

Hm, I'm surprised that DePaul would take that kind of shot at the AIFA and Express in a press release. Not professional at all.

[Tatonka]

I'm not surprised at all to see DePaul take those shots... in fact, I've come to expect it from them.

[Coach Bernie]

Well I agree about the cheap shots, but what ya gonna do, they are only cheap shots....my style is a little more direct and factual so after reading that fictional piece, I am gonna add some facts to the mix

#1 the much maligned AIFA? I think our lg. has done a great job in year one and our plans for the future are much brighter than any other lg. I have read about...(funny how many cifl teams have called to get in) I hope all the lg.s do well, it's just better for all of us.

#2 Steve the defensive coordinator of the year for the last two years...well here is a case of mis-information or tremendous self promotion. First off, the first year Steve coached for Reading he was the def. line coach and in charge of equipment, so where does Def.Coord. of The Year come from? and the second year he was def. coordinator, but I was at the Lg. Awards Banquet and I don't recall the category of Def. Coordinator of the Year being announced....oh it wasn't because that award doesn't exist.

#3 lets get the coaches thing clear, we have been up front about this from the beginning...first year coach Ollie guidry moved up to the AFL after season one and is now a Head Coach of an AFL2 team, plus the ownership at that time was admittedly horrible.

coach two ..Kelly Logan..again we have been up front with this...Kelly is not local he lives 3+ hours away and has a wife and children to care for and a full time job there... we need a full time coach here that can sell and market the team the way it needs to be done and that combination of distance and him having a full time job in Jersey wouldn't work. it wasn't fair to him or this organization

my question...how many coaches in their 3 year existence has LV had..i believe 3 now also...first coach ever hired , quit before the season ever started,(he came to express games to watch and ask questions) the one that was not brought back this year and now your new one...so the coaching situation there doesn't seem to be in line..we at least have real posted reasons for our changes.

and as far as "the leader of the hit squad" there were certainly many other people involved in that creation...both head coaches, 1 who was the original coordinator, other coaches, i guess my input as def. back coach and gm doesn't count.

alright so i have done a little venting, but i have only added FACTS not fiction.

[exit322]

tatonka said:

I'm not surprised at all to see DePaul take those shots... in fact, I've come to expect it from them.

Did he take shots this past year, then? He didn't do it in '06, but I didn't pay as much attention in 2007.

[exit322]

The first coach before 2006 "involuntarily resigned" because the organization felt he wasn't doing anything to make the team competitive. Considering the talent brought in and what they did for the Outlawz after the first coach was removed, it was the smart decision there. DePaul shouldn't have coached the team himself, but at least he's finally figured that out now while the team's still drawing very well.