Yesterday the Soul added onto their impressive coaching staff by bringing aboard former AFL veteran and assistant coach Darrin Kenney. Kenney will work alongside fellow assistant coach Leroy Thompson to work with the Soul's offensive and defensive lines. It's a role he's held previously with the AFL's Nashville Kats (2005-07), Grand Rapids Rampage (2008) and Alabama Vipers (2010).
His best coaching effort came with the Nashville Kats where the defense flourished under his tutelage. The Kats led the league in sacks in back-to-back seasons (2005-06) while ranking 1st and 3rd in the AFL in yards allowed per game in 2006 (263.9) and 2007 (277.9) respectively.
Under Kenney, then Nashville Kats starting fullback Dan Alexander broke out in 2007 when the former Nebraska Cornhusker led the league in rushing with 426 yards which is currently the third highest output in AFL history. Alexander also set a league record with 41 rushing touchdowns in 2007, a record that still stands today.
The 6'4'', 277 pound offensive and defensive lineman played 10 years in the AFL with the Tampa Bay Storm (1993), the Albany Firebirds (1994-95), the Arizona Rattlers (1997-00), and the San Jose SaberCats (2001-03). Kenney was a consistent winner in the AFL never playing for a losing team in his 10 years as a player. His teams racked up a combined 105-31 record (.772 win percentage) including three victorious trips to the ArenaBowl in 1993, 1997, and 2002.
The Lycoming College product had the reputation of being a great pass blocker while racking up 68.5 total tackles (58 solo and 11 assisted), 7.0 sacks, 14 pass break-ups, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries on the defensive end.
Kenney retired after the 2003 season to pursue a broadcasting job for the Philadelphia Soul in their inaugural season. He was the color analyst for radio broadcasts of Soul games in 2004 and was preparing for a second season until the Nashville Kats offered him a position on their coaching staff in 2005.
The former Warrior earned Mid-Atlantic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in both his junior and senior years (1990-91) including an All-American selection as well in his senior year. For his efforts, Kenney was inducted into Lycoming College's Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
Kenney comes back to a Philadelphia Soul organization in a very different capacity in 2012 as he'll be depended upon to keep the offensive and defensive lines efficient and effective for a championship run. The addition brings in another good character guy who's had success in the past and looks to get back on track this upcoming season.
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