Post by 50yardfan on Nov 6, 2010 11:50:26 GMT -5
Steve Fickert Named General Manager of Huntington Hammer
Cecil Vandyke, owner of the Huntington Hammer of the “new” Ultimate Indoor Football League, has named Steve Fickert as the General Manager of THE HAMMER. Fickert comes to THE HAMMER with a wealth of Arena/Indoor Football coaching and leadership experience.
Coach Fickert spent time coaching Arena Football with the Grand Rapids Rampage (Arena Football League) as the Assistant Head Coach-OL/DL Coach & Special Teams Coordinator, and in the AF2 with the Bakersfield Blitz, the Peoria Pirates and the Quad City Steamwheelers as an Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, OL-DL Coach and Special Teams Coordinator. During his tenure with the Quad Cities Steamwheelers, Steve had the opportunity to work along side Jim Foster (the founder and creator of Arena Football). He also served as the Head Coach and Director of Football Operations for the Tupelo Fireants (NIFL), where in the first year of operation and being named Head Coach after the season started, he won the last 7 out of 8 games, only losing to the NIFL Champion Mississippi Firedogs (coached by Irv Favre) … this included a loss to the Huntington Locomotives – but as Coach Fickert likes to say, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish”.
His successful college coaching experience includes serving as Head Coach at Western New Mexico University, Wayne State University (MI), Maryville College (TN) and Upper Iowa University. He has also served as Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach at McPherson College (KS) and Defensive Coordinator at Albion College (MI), Wabash College (IN) and was an Assistant Coach at the University of Texas. Coach Fickert has also been a successful Head Coach at Seeger High School (IN), Elmhurst High School (IN), William Blount High School (TN) and Lutheran-Parker High School (CO).
Internationally, Coach Fickert was the Head Football Coach for the Maple League Champion Seinijoki Crocodiles (Finland), Playoff-Finalist Hannover Musketeers (Germany) and was a part-time Assistant Coach for the World Football League’s Berlin Thunder (Germany).
After receiving honors as an All-State Football Player in high school, Coach Fickert received a Football Scholarship to Miami (Ohio) where he played for Bo Schembechler and Bill Mallory. “Coach” was also Captain and an All-ICC LBer for the Conference Champions Butler University Bulldogs (IN). After a short tryout with the Chicago Bears, “Coach” decided to follow a career as a Football Coach. He graduated from Butler University with a BS in Education/Exercise Physiology and received his Master’s Degree in Secondary Education/Exercise Science from Western Michigan University, where he also served as a Graduate Assistant Football Coach.
“Coach” states: “I see the Huntington Hammer as an exciting opportunity for the entire community. I envision great potential for the THE HAMMER Indoor Football Team as we will offer a fun, ‘high energy’ sports entertainment product, at family affordable prices. As part of our ‘fan friendly’ mission, fans keep the footballs that land in the stands … although they must throw the football players back. Our commitment is to make THE HAMMER a very important part of the entire social and business community as well as giving back to the local youth programs and being involved with charities … and, of course ‘WIN THE UIFL CHAMPIONSHIP’. We want to offer hard-hitting, high-scoring, ‘edge of your seat’ professional Indoor Football. The 50-Yard War where EVERY GAME IS AN EVENT … IT’s HAMMER TIME!”
Coach Fickert and his wife, Kathy, have 2 children … a daughter, Erin, who lives with her family in Parker, CO and a son, Mike, who is currently serving in the U.S. Army and is stationed with his family at Ft. Bragg, NC. They have 3 grandchildren: Jackson, Luke and Reagan.
The Huntington Hammer is a founding member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League and will begin play in February, 2011 at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. For 2011 Ticket Information and Sponsorship Opportunities call 304.525.PASS (7277) or visit our Web Site at huntingtonhammer.com.
Cecil Vandyke, owner of the Huntington Hammer of the “new” Ultimate Indoor Football League, has named Steve Fickert as the General Manager of THE HAMMER. Fickert comes to THE HAMMER with a wealth of Arena/Indoor Football coaching and leadership experience.
Coach Fickert spent time coaching Arena Football with the Grand Rapids Rampage (Arena Football League) as the Assistant Head Coach-OL/DL Coach & Special Teams Coordinator, and in the AF2 with the Bakersfield Blitz, the Peoria Pirates and the Quad City Steamwheelers as an Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, OL-DL Coach and Special Teams Coordinator. During his tenure with the Quad Cities Steamwheelers, Steve had the opportunity to work along side Jim Foster (the founder and creator of Arena Football). He also served as the Head Coach and Director of Football Operations for the Tupelo Fireants (NIFL), where in the first year of operation and being named Head Coach after the season started, he won the last 7 out of 8 games, only losing to the NIFL Champion Mississippi Firedogs (coached by Irv Favre) … this included a loss to the Huntington Locomotives – but as Coach Fickert likes to say, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish”.
His successful college coaching experience includes serving as Head Coach at Western New Mexico University, Wayne State University (MI), Maryville College (TN) and Upper Iowa University. He has also served as Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach at McPherson College (KS) and Defensive Coordinator at Albion College (MI), Wabash College (IN) and was an Assistant Coach at the University of Texas. Coach Fickert has also been a successful Head Coach at Seeger High School (IN), Elmhurst High School (IN), William Blount High School (TN) and Lutheran-Parker High School (CO).
Internationally, Coach Fickert was the Head Football Coach for the Maple League Champion Seinijoki Crocodiles (Finland), Playoff-Finalist Hannover Musketeers (Germany) and was a part-time Assistant Coach for the World Football League’s Berlin Thunder (Germany).
After receiving honors as an All-State Football Player in high school, Coach Fickert received a Football Scholarship to Miami (Ohio) where he played for Bo Schembechler and Bill Mallory. “Coach” was also Captain and an All-ICC LBer for the Conference Champions Butler University Bulldogs (IN). After a short tryout with the Chicago Bears, “Coach” decided to follow a career as a Football Coach. He graduated from Butler University with a BS in Education/Exercise Physiology and received his Master’s Degree in Secondary Education/Exercise Science from Western Michigan University, where he also served as a Graduate Assistant Football Coach.
“Coach” states: “I see the Huntington Hammer as an exciting opportunity for the entire community. I envision great potential for the THE HAMMER Indoor Football Team as we will offer a fun, ‘high energy’ sports entertainment product, at family affordable prices. As part of our ‘fan friendly’ mission, fans keep the footballs that land in the stands … although they must throw the football players back. Our commitment is to make THE HAMMER a very important part of the entire social and business community as well as giving back to the local youth programs and being involved with charities … and, of course ‘WIN THE UIFL CHAMPIONSHIP’. We want to offer hard-hitting, high-scoring, ‘edge of your seat’ professional Indoor Football. The 50-Yard War where EVERY GAME IS AN EVENT … IT’s HAMMER TIME!”
Coach Fickert and his wife, Kathy, have 2 children … a daughter, Erin, who lives with her family in Parker, CO and a son, Mike, who is currently serving in the U.S. Army and is stationed with his family at Ft. Bragg, NC. They have 3 grandchildren: Jackson, Luke and Reagan.
The Huntington Hammer is a founding member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League and will begin play in February, 2011 at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. For 2011 Ticket Information and Sponsorship Opportunities call 304.525.PASS (7277) or visit our Web Site at huntingtonhammer.com.