Post by Nevadanut on Jan 10, 2019 23:07:33 GMT -8
1/10/19 --
TUCSON, AZ - The Strike Force have hired former San Diego Chargers' defensive end Burt Grossman as its head coach for the 2019 season.
The hiring comes on the heels of the news that the team's original hire, Ameer Ismail, left the team to take a coaching position in the National Arena League with the Carolina Cobras. Ismail had originally been hired on December 4. The Strike Force embark on their inaugural season next month.
Grossman enjoyed a seven-year NFL career prior to it being cut short due to a severe neck injury. He played with the Charges from 1989 to 1993 and with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1994 to 1995. Over his seven-year career, he accumulated 43.5 sacks. 276 tackles and three forced fumbles..
He has been highly involved in philanthropic endeavors in and around San Diego since his retirement from the NFL. Much of this involves youth sports and educational activities, including serving in many administrative positions in various organizations with the intent of helping children get into sports and aiding in adding safety programs to youth sports. He also was the director of a program which provides vocational training, support services and job placement assistance to special education students in the Sweetwater District through funding provided by the Workforce Partnership.
"I'm excited for this opportunity and I want to thank Strike Force President Greg Anderson and General Manager Brian Cox for believing in me and offering me the chance to serve as the franchise's first head coach, it's truly an honor," Grossman said in a report on the Indoor Football League's official website. "I know that there are a lot of football fans in San Diego who are hungry to embrace a team they can call their own and be proud of, and we're going to do everything we can on the field and in the community to give them just that."
Grossman was drafted with the eighth overall pick by the Chargers in 1989 after a stellar college career at the University of Pittsburgh. He was featured on the October 15, 1990 cover of Sports Illustrated which highlighted his outlandish and loud personality. A father of two children, he is a cousin of Randy Grossman, former tied end for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"We can't think of a better coach and person to lead our team into this first season here in San Diego than Burt," Strike Force President Greg Anderson said in the IFL report. "Not only did he prove and establish himself on the field as a player here in San Diego, but more importantly he's done some incredible things in the community and he's exactly the kind of leader we wanted for the Strike Force."
The Strike Force and Quad City Steamwheelers open the 2019 IFL season on February 22 in Moline, Illinois. The IFL is entering its 11th season, with the Iowa Barnstormers looking to repeat as champions.
- HMB
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