American Eastern Division Coaches

I thought I'd focus today's post on the coaches that'll oppose the Soul within the division. In a league where major roster changes on a yearly basis are a part of reality, the head coach is usually the one constant that remains during a team's success. You don't mess with a good thing when it comes to Arena Football coaches and many teams are hesitant to make coaching changes (unlike their outdoor counterpart the NFL) if that particular coach has had success in the past. So here's the three other head coaches in the Eastern Division:

Steve Thonn - Head Coach of the Cleveland Gladiators
Playing Career:
- Chicago Bruisers (AFL) -> '88 WR/DB
- Albany Firebirds (AFL) -> '90-'93 WR/DB
Coaching Career (All in AFL):
- Albany Firebirds [Receivers/Special Teams Coach] '94
- Connecticut Coyotes  [Offensive Coordinator] '95
- Milwaukee Mustangs [Offensive Coordinator] '96
- Houston ThunderBears [Head Coach] '98-'01 -> 18-38 Record & 1 Playoff Appearance (Loss)
- Dallas Desperados [Offensive Coordinator] '03-'04
- Georgia Force [Offensive Coordinator] '05-'07 -> Plank's offensive coordinator 3 out of 4 years
- Grand Rapids Rampage [Head Coach] '08 -> 6-10 Record & Qualified for Playoffs (2-1 Record)
- Cleveland Gladiators [Head Coach] '10-Current -> 7-9 Record ('10) 10-8 Record ('11)

• Thonn's been around Arena Football for over 20 years and there's no doubt that his experience has led him to where he's at currently. Though not overly productive as a head coach (41-68 Overall Record) he's found success in spurts. He's had only 2 winning seasons as a head coach, but his time with the Force may be the most important piece of experience for him at this time. Being Plank's offensive coordinator for three of his four years as Georgia's head coach, Thonn knows Planks very well and vice versa. Their close relationship should make for an interesting rivalry for years to come. Expect those games to be very competitive as neither coach will likely tolerate a loss to each other. Thonn has the upper hand being that he's been an AFL head coach consistently since '08 while Plank hasn't coached in the AFL since '08. This by far is the most interesting match up for the Soul in 2012 for these reasons alone.

Chris Siegfried - Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Power
Playing Career:
- Augusta Stallions (AF2) -> '00 WR/DB
Coaching Career:
- Cape Fear Wildcats (AF2) [Head Coach] '02-'04 -> 35-13 Record (3-3 Playoffs)
- South Georgia Wildcats (AF2) [Head Coach] '05 -> 2-8 Record (Fired after 10 games)
- Spokane Shock (AF2) [Head Coach] '06 -> 14-2 Record (3-0 Playoffs) ArenaCup VII Champs
- Kansas City Brigade (AFL) [Offensive Coordinator] '07
- Arkansas Twisters (AF2) [Head Coach] '08-'09  -> 22-10 Record (0-2 Playoffs)
- Jacksonville Sharks (AFL) [Offensive Coordinator] '10
- Pittsburgh Power (AFL) [Head Coach] '11-Current

• Siegfried holds the recognition of being the first AF2 player to become a head coach. He was the AF2 coach of the year in '06 after he led the expansion Spokane Shock all the way to an ArenaCup victory. He's only suffered a losing season once in his coaching career (his two years as an offensive coordinator for the Brigade and Sharks the teams finished 10-6 and 12-4 respectively). Siegfried has an overall record of 76-38 in the AF2 and take on his results from last season and he's 85-47 overall as an arena football head coach. A .644 winning percentage is something that the Soul will need to watch out for as Siegfried enters his second season as an AFL head coach. The Soul split the '11 season series with each team winning on the road (Soul in Week 1 and the Power in week 20) and due to a interstate natural rivalry, it's going to be hard for any team to win these games outright. Expect high attendances and great AFL football to be played between these two teams again in '12.

Bob Landsee - Head Coach of the Milwaukee Mustangs
Playing Career:
- Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) -> '86-'87
Coaching Career:
- Milwaukee Mustangs (AFL) [Offensive Line Coach] '99-'01
- Toronto Phantoms (AFL) [Offensive Line Coach] '02
- Indiana Firebirds (AFL) [Offensive Line Coach] '03
- Green Bay Blizzard (AF2) [Head Coach] '05-'06 & '08-'09 -> 40-24 Record (5-4 Playoffs)
- Milwaukee Iron/Mustangs [Head Coach] '10-Current -> 11-5 (1-1 Playoffs)in '10 & 7-11 in '11

• Bob Landsee was the coach that lost to Chris Siegfried's Spokane Shock in ArenaCup VII back in 2006. That's the closest Landsee has gotten to a championship. In '10 his Milwaukee Iron (now the Mustangs) lost a heart breaker in the National Conference title game to the Spokane Shock (who went on to win ArenaBowl XXIII) 60 to 57. After a disappointing '11 campaign the Mustangs have something to prove in '12 to ensure that '10 was not a fluke. Remember, the Mustangs had the best overall defense last season along with being one of two teams with a positive turnover ratio (+14) to no make the playoffs. It seems that the Mustangs only need to tighten things up in a couple of areas along with getting any kind of production on the offensive side of the ball before becoming a force in not just the East, but in the AFL. A disciplined team like this will not produce a 7-11 record or worse in '12 I can assure you that. The Soul is going to have to rely on their new force of a QB that is Dan Raudabaugh (formerly with the now defunct Dallas Vigilantes) can get things going on offense to counteract that tough Milwaukee defense.