Arizona Rattlers relaunch; Name President and Head Coach
Monday November 16, 2009
PHOENIX – The Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football One named DANNY WHITE team President and KEVIN GUY Head Coach & Director of Football Operations at a press conference today.
Following the introductions, Guy announced the signings of 22 players to the 2010 squad and White announced the team had signed a lease with the US Airways Center to play its 2010 home games.
As team president, White will oversee the business and marketing efforts of the franchise. Most recently he served as head coach with the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League. White led the team to the playoffs in each of the franchise’s three years, including the team’s inaugural season in 2006. Prior to his years in Utah, White was the Rattlers’ head coach from 1992 to 2004, leading the team to five Arena Bowls and two AFL championships during that span. The team missed the playoffs just once in White’s 13 years.
“The Rattlers are back and better than ever,” said White. “This will be one of the premier teams in the Arena Football One. There’s a great tradition of arena football here in Phoenix, and I look forward to helping bring that tradition back to our fans, starting next spring.”
Guy resumes the position he held during the 2008 season, returning the Rattlers to the playoffs and doubling its win total from the prior season. For his efforts that season, Guy finished as the runner-up in the Coach of the Year awards. Recently inducted into the arenafootball2 Hall of Fame, Guy continues his illustrious career in arena football. A consistent winner as both a coach and player, Guy owned a 73% winning percentage in the af2 and left the league as its all-time winningest coach and was named the league’s Coach of the Year in 2003. As a defensive coordinator with the AFL’s San Jose SaberCats, Guy’s squads consistently ranked at the top of the league in all defensive categories. He has yet to miss the playoffs as a head coach at any level in arena football and won the 2007 AFL Championship while with San Jose.
“I am happy to be back,” said Guy. “Everything we do from this point forward will be about the process of bringing the Rattlers back to the championship level.”
Guy will have a number of familiar faces playing with him in 2010, including Arizona local WR TRANDON HARVEY. Harvey was offered a contract after the 2007 open tryout and quickly established himself as one of the league’s best receivers. In just two AFL seasons, Harvey racked up 211 receptions for 2858 yards and 58 touchdowns and consistently ranked near the top in all receiving categories. A versatile threat, Harvey added kickoff return duties in 2008, averaging 18.8 yards per return on the AFL’s 50 yard field with three touchdowns.
In addition to Harvey, the team has inked five other players from the 2008 squad. They include:
WR TOD DEVOE…52 receptions, 585 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008.
DT ANTTAJ HAWTHORNE…13 tackles, 1 sack and two pass breakups in 2008.
OL ATLAS HERRION…named to the AFL’s 2008 All-Rookie Team
LB KURT KAHUI…20.5 tackles, 1 sack and 3 interceptions in 2008.
DB ARIC WILLIAMS…47 tackles, 2 interceptions and 9 pass breakups in 2008.
Joining the returnees thus far are 16 new Rattlers, led by marquee veterans WR/DB KEVIN INGRAM and WR JJ MCKELVEY. Ingram, who spent most of his AFL career with the Los Angeles Avengers, is one of the most decorated players in the league’s history. A former Ironman of the Year winner, Ingram averaged over 60 receptions and nearly five interceptions a year before the league switched to its one-way rules. Playing mostly offense in the league’s last two seasons, Ingram paced the avengers with an average of 100 receptions, nearly 1100 yards and 25 touchdowns each season.
As a member of the Utah Blaze and playing in White’s offense, McKelvey logged a career year in 2008 with 121 receptions for 1534 yards and 38 touchdowns in 16 games, finishing near the top of the league in all three key receiving categories. At 6-4, 225, McKelvey is a huge threat anywhere on the field, but particularly in the red-zone.
The group also features a variety of veterans from both the AFL and af2 leagues. They include:
QB NICK DAVILA…Spokane (af2), 35-2 career record; 1st team all-af2 in 2009.
WR ROD WINDSOR…Rio Grande Valley (af2), af2 offensive player of the year in 2009.
OL KYLE YOUNG…Spokane (af2), 1st team all-af2 in 2009.
OL JOHN BOOKER…Spokane (af2), starter for Spokane’s ‘09 af2 championship squad.
OL WILLIAM OBENG…San Jose (AFL), starter on the 2007 AFL championship squad.
OL TROY REDDICK…San Jose (AFL), starter on the 2007 AFL championship squad.
FB SHAWN WILLIS…San Jose (AFL), member of the 2007 AFL championship squad.
FB/LB VALENTINE CHUDE…Rio Grande Valley (af2), 2009 1st team all-af2; 10.5 sacks
DL MARCUS PITTMAN…Bossier City (af2), seven sacks in 10 games in 2009.
DL TEZ DOOLITTLE…Auburn University, athletic pass-rusher.
DL WALTER THOMAS…Rio Grande Valley (af2), team’s starter at nose guard.
DB RILEY SWANSON…Rio Grande Valley (af2), two-way threat and 2009 starter.
DB TERRANCE SANDERS…Boise (af2), led league in 2009 in KR average (30.0 ypr)
DB SERGIO GILLIAM…Spokane (af2), 36 interceptions in two seasons.
“I’m very happy with where we are at this point in our recruiting,” said Guy. “We’re recruiting players who fit into our philosophy of football, which is very aggressive and high tempo with lots of possessions.”
The team will also continue to play its home games at US Airways Center in downtown Phoenix. Nicknamed the Snake Pit and known for its loud and loyal fans, the arena has had a tradition of arena football dating back to its (and the Rattlers’) inaugural season in 1992.
“The Snake Pit is undoubtedly the greatest home field advantage in all of Arena Football,” said White. “Our fans are Rattler Proud and Rattler Loud, and we’re going to give them a lot to cheer for when we take the field next spring.”
About the Rattlers and the Arena Football One
The Arizona Rattlers are returning to the US Airways Center for the 2010 season. 2010 season tickets will go on sale in the near future. The Rattlers are a member of Arena Football 1, which was formed in 2009. The league boasts teams from coast to coast and will commence its inaugural season in the spring of 2010. Visit the Rattlers website at www.azrattlers.com, and the AF1’s website at www.arenafootballone.com.