Empire DC Ismail named finalist in 2016 IFL Hall of Fame
Jun 13, 2016 15:45:20 GMT -8
Nevadanut likes this
Post by David on Jun 13, 2016 15:45:20 GMT -8
Empire DC Ameer Ismail with SWX's Sam Adams (image courtesy of SWX)
6.13.16 -
Spokane Empire Defensive Coordinator Ameer Ismail has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2016 IFL Hall of Fame Class.
The 2016 IFL Hall of Fame Class will select three members out of the group for Hall of Fame inductions. The newest members to the IFL Hall of Fame will be revealed Thursday, June 16th, 2016.
As of today, the league urges fans to voice their input in the selection process. Fans can vote for the finalists via polls on the IFL's official website (GoIFL.com) and through social media using the hashtag, "#IFLHOF". The Top 3 will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during game festivities at the 2016 United Bowl, which is scheduled for the weekend of July 22nd.
This is the second time that Ismail has been named a finalist for IFL Hall of Fame. He was previously a finalist in the 2015 Hall of Fame Class.
Before becoming a coach, Ismail was a linebacker who played college football at Western Michigan University. He spent some time in the NFL as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, but ended up making a name for himself in the IFL. He played 3 seasons for the Tri-Cities Fever (2010), Bloomington Edge (2012) and Chicago Slaughter (2013), earning two First Team All-IFL honors and was the 2012 IFL Defensive Player of the Year. In total, he recorded 357 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 6 interceptions and 5 forced fumbles.
Ismail (#43) as a member of the Bloomington Edge in 2012 (image courtesy of Carlos T. Miranda/ The Pantagraph)
In 2014, Ismail made the transition to coaching as a member of Cedar Rapids Titans, commanding a Top 5 defense that went 11-3 that season. In 2015, he was hired as Defensive Coordinator of the Tri-Cities Fever in 2015 under head coach Adam Shackleford. That season, the Fever defense gave up an average of 213.6 yards/game, which was 3rd in the IFL. His defense was also ranked 4th in the IFL in rushing defense (73.9 yards/game), 3rd in pass defense (139.7 yards/game), and 3rd in pass defensive efficiency, limiting quarterbacks to a 97.5 QBR.
When Shackleford left the Fever to return home to Spokane, Ismail was one of the first Fever staff members he hired. "Ameer has had three very successful seasons as a defensive coordinator and proven that he is one of the top young defensive minds in indoor football," Shackleford said in the team's press release. "We’re looking forward to having him on our staff and utilizing his experience to build a great football team.”
Ismail has done just that. In fact, he's the mastermind behind the Empire's defense, which ranks 4th overall in total defense (244.6 yards/game), 3rd in average points allowed (43.9 points/game), 3rd in rush defense (66.6 yards/game) and 6th in pass defense (178.0 yards/game).
The other 9 nominees for the IFL Hall of Fame Class of 2016 include:
- Michael Bazemore (DL) - Billings Outlaws, Sioux Falls Storm
- Mark Blackburn (LB) - Sioux Falls Storm
- Teri Carr (Owner) - Tri-Cities Fever
- Michael Eby (DB) - Billings Outlaws, Wyoming Cavalry, Colorado Ice
- Robert Fuller (HC) - Fairbanks Grizzlies, Green Bay Blizzard, Bemidji Axemen
- Demarcus James (DB/KR) - Alaska Wild, Richmond Revolution, Colorado Ice
- Andre Piper-Jordan (WR) - Kent Predators, Seattle Timberwolves, Everett Raptors, Nebraska Danger
- Lionell Singleton (DB) - Tri-Cities Fever
- Tom Wigley (Owner) - Colorado Ice/Colorado Crush
You can read more about the 9 other candidates on the IFL's press release.
- DKH
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