PREDATORS ANNOUCE PLANK AS NEW HEAD COACH

CHICAGO – The Orlando Predators announced Doug Plank as the team’s new Head Coach at a press conference in Orlando this afternoon. The team also introduced Tim Marcum, the winningest coach in AFL history, as an assistant.

It was announced that Plank would not return as Head Coach of the Philadelphia Soul on August 16th, less than a week after coaching the team in AVITAE ArenaBowl XXV. He was named the AFL’s Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007 as the Head Coach of the Georgia Force. He led both the Force and Soul to ArenaBowl appearances in his first season with both respective franchises. In 2012, he guided the Soul to a franchise-best 15-3 regular season record, bringing his overall coaching record to 64-29.

“We are thrilled to have Doug Plank join the Orlando Predators organization,” Predators Managing Partner Brett Bouchy said. “With Doug’s work ethic and passion for the sport of football, I am confident that he can bring the Predators back to our winning tradition and bring an ArenaBowl title home to Orlando.”

Plank’s top aide and Offensive Coordinator will be Marcum, longtime Head Coach of the Predator’s “War on I-4” rival, the Tampa Bay Storm. Marcum coached the Denver Dynamite to an ArenaBowl championship in the League’s inaugural season in 1987 before leading the Detroit Drive to become the AFL’s first dynasty in the late 1980s and early ‘90s. He coached the Storm from 1995-2010, accumulating a 211-99 record in his Hall of Fame career. Marcum served as Associate Head Coach of the New Orleans VooDoo under Pat O’Hara in 2012.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Tim to the team,” Bouchy said. “He is a legendary coach, and we are confident that he and Doug are going to do great things in Orlando.”

The Predators relieved Bret Munsey of his duties on August 13 after a disappointing 4-14 season in which Orlando missed the playoffs for the first time since 1992. Plank will be Orlando’s third head coach in as many seasons.