Post by fwp on May 12, 2010 7:47:45 GMT -5
www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/may/11/desperate-venom-fire-their-head-coach-general/?sports
WENATCHEE — With the Wenatchee Valley Venom mired in a five-game losing streak, the indoor pro football team fired head coach and assistant general manager Keith Evans late Monday afternoon.
Assistant head coach Brian Smith was named interim head coach for the next two weeks while the Venom search for a new head coach.
Venom general manager Mark Helm said it had become apparent to team owners and management that a change was needed to get the franchise to the “next level, both on and off the field.”
“We’ve been discussing this for a couple weeks, and it’s never a good time to make a coaching change — especially in the middle of the season — but we just decided we couldn’t wait any longer,” Helm said. “Our backs are against the wall. But if we win all our other games, we’re in second place and in the playoffs. We’re just hoping to get this thing turned around quick, and if nothing else get to a .500 record this year.”
Contacted after the decision was announced, Evans expressed disappointment.
“I don’t know if this is going to be a fix,” Evans said. “We got our quarterback (Devin Hollins) in there, and I thought we were headed in the direction we needed to be in. If a couple of things bounce a certain direction, I wouldn’t be looking at this situation. I definitely would have liked the opportunity to finish the season and see what direction we were headed in.”
Evans, who has been in Wenatchee since last June, helped get the franchise off the ground.
“He became the face of the team when we first announced the team,” Helm said. “He became part of the community, developed friendships here, and is a genuine guy. He was big on getting us started.”
“I’m very grateful to Mark Helm and (part owner) Frank Kuntz for the opportunity,” Evans said. “It was a team effort, us putting this together. ... Even though I might not agree about how things took place, I want nothing but the best of success for the team and the players.”
Evans said he will continue to pursue coaching in indoor football.
Smith, who also serves as the team’s defensive coordinator and special teams coach, said he is excited for the opportunity and intends to earn the full-time head coaching position.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to help this team get better and become successful,” Smith said. “ I’m confident and up for the challenge. I appreciate the confidence and support (the owners) are giving me right now.”
In a press release, Helm said Smith’s “character, integrity, and passion for the game of football have already started to motivate and prepare our players for the game against the San Jose Wolves this week.”
Smith won two state titles as a linebacker at Curtis High School in Tacoma, and later played at Boise State University. He played four years of pro arena football and spent time with the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos. He began coaching in 2007, with stops at the AFL’s New York Dragons and AF2’s Boise Burn and Central Valley Coyotes.
Smith pinpointed the team’s attitude as the main area that needs changing.
“We need to try to get more prepared, try to change the work ethic,” he said. “We need a little more structure as a team, to come together and build some unity.”
Venom wide receiver Phil Goodman, the team’s franchise player, said he is on board with the coaching change.
“I’m glad that we made the move and are moving towards coach Smith. He’s more than qualified, more than capable, he has leadership and respect from the players,” Goodman said. “It was too laid back. ... I know the formula of a losing team, and I think we were sliding into that. I applaud our front office guys that have stepped in and shown initiative and shown that we want to win. I don’t think this was a disciplinary thing towards coach Evans, but I think this is the team putting out the embers before this was a full fire.”
Brent Stecker: 661-5222
WENATCHEE — With the Wenatchee Valley Venom mired in a five-game losing streak, the indoor pro football team fired head coach and assistant general manager Keith Evans late Monday afternoon.
Assistant head coach Brian Smith was named interim head coach for the next two weeks while the Venom search for a new head coach.
Venom general manager Mark Helm said it had become apparent to team owners and management that a change was needed to get the franchise to the “next level, both on and off the field.”
“We’ve been discussing this for a couple weeks, and it’s never a good time to make a coaching change — especially in the middle of the season — but we just decided we couldn’t wait any longer,” Helm said. “Our backs are against the wall. But if we win all our other games, we’re in second place and in the playoffs. We’re just hoping to get this thing turned around quick, and if nothing else get to a .500 record this year.”
Contacted after the decision was announced, Evans expressed disappointment.
“I don’t know if this is going to be a fix,” Evans said. “We got our quarterback (Devin Hollins) in there, and I thought we were headed in the direction we needed to be in. If a couple of things bounce a certain direction, I wouldn’t be looking at this situation. I definitely would have liked the opportunity to finish the season and see what direction we were headed in.”
Evans, who has been in Wenatchee since last June, helped get the franchise off the ground.
“He became the face of the team when we first announced the team,” Helm said. “He became part of the community, developed friendships here, and is a genuine guy. He was big on getting us started.”
“I’m very grateful to Mark Helm and (part owner) Frank Kuntz for the opportunity,” Evans said. “It was a team effort, us putting this together. ... Even though I might not agree about how things took place, I want nothing but the best of success for the team and the players.”
Evans said he will continue to pursue coaching in indoor football.
Smith, who also serves as the team’s defensive coordinator and special teams coach, said he is excited for the opportunity and intends to earn the full-time head coaching position.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to help this team get better and become successful,” Smith said. “ I’m confident and up for the challenge. I appreciate the confidence and support (the owners) are giving me right now.”
In a press release, Helm said Smith’s “character, integrity, and passion for the game of football have already started to motivate and prepare our players for the game against the San Jose Wolves this week.”
Smith won two state titles as a linebacker at Curtis High School in Tacoma, and later played at Boise State University. He played four years of pro arena football and spent time with the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos. He began coaching in 2007, with stops at the AFL’s New York Dragons and AF2’s Boise Burn and Central Valley Coyotes.
Smith pinpointed the team’s attitude as the main area that needs changing.
“We need to try to get more prepared, try to change the work ethic,” he said. “We need a little more structure as a team, to come together and build some unity.”
Venom wide receiver Phil Goodman, the team’s franchise player, said he is on board with the coaching change.
“I’m glad that we made the move and are moving towards coach Smith. He’s more than qualified, more than capable, he has leadership and respect from the players,” Goodman said. “It was too laid back. ... I know the formula of a losing team, and I think we were sliding into that. I applaud our front office guys that have stepped in and shown initiative and shown that we want to win. I don’t think this was a disciplinary thing towards coach Evans, but I think this is the team putting out the embers before this was a full fire.”
Brent Stecker: 661-5222