McDowell Named Valor Head Coach
Monday September 10, 2018
Three-year AFL coaching veteran promoted after ArenaBowl XXXI championship
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Valor announced today that Benji McDowell, who led the team to an ArenaBowl XXXI title, has been promoted to head coach. McDowell was named interim head coach on May 16 after the Valor started the season 0-4. Under McDowell’s leadership, Washington earned victories against Albany and Philadelphia and two wins against Baltimore, including a 14-point win in ArenaBowl XXXI.
“Benji has proven himself to be a championship-caliber coach and we are thrilled to have him leading our team,” said Roger Mody, Managing Partner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s Arena Football League teams. “Benji has found success at every level and we’re excited to have him on board as we continue to develop our team and grow the Arena Football League.”
“It is an absolute honor to be able to continue coaching this group of guys,” McDowell said. “We are all eager to build on last season’s championship. There are a lot of great things to come for the Washington Valor and the Arena Football League.”
2018 marked McDowell’s third season as an AFL coach and his second with the Valor. McDowell spent the 2016 season with the Tampa Bay Storm as defensive coordinator as well as line coach and special teams coordinator. McDowell spent the 2015 season with the University of Georgia as a defensive line intern. McDowell was also a member of the Alabama Hammers (PIFL) coaching staff during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, helping lead the team to the 2013 PIFL Championship. McDowell attended Lenoir Rhyne University in North Carolina graduating with multiple degrees in psychology, sociology, and community services. He earned All-American honors during his senior season, leaving the program as the school’s career leader in multiple statistical categories.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON VALOR
The AFL’s Washington Valor are owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which is one of the largest integrated sports and entertainment companies in the country with one of the most diverse partnership groups in all of sports. The company also owns and operates the NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals, the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, the NBA G League’s Capital City Go-Go, the AFL’s Baltimore Brigade, NBA 2K League’s Wizards District Gaming, as well as Capital One Arena, the premier sports and entertainment venue in Washington, D.C. Monumental Sports & Entertainment is also co-owner of aXiomatic, which has controlling interest in global esports franchise Team Liquid, and oversees the management of Kettler Capitals Iceplex--the training facility for the Washington Capitals--and the Eagle Bank arena at George Mason University.
