Post by DiamondThief on Aug 21, 2024 19:48:49 GMT -8
8/22/24 --
FISHERS, IN - The Fishers Freight today announced that two-time IFL championship winning head coach Dixie Wooten has been hired as its first head coach in franchise history.
Wooten steered the Iowa Barnstormers to the United Bowl X title in 2018 and guided the Bay Area Panthers to the 2023 IFL National Championship in 2023 along with co-head coach Rob Keefe. He was offensive coordinator in 2024 with the Panthers, who went 13-3 during the regular season before falling to the San Diego Strike Force in the first round of the playoffs, 49-40.
In nearly six full seasons as a head coach, he has compiled a record of 58-26 in the regular season and 5-3 in the playoffs for a 63-29 mark. In addition to coaching the Barnstormers from 2017 to 2019, he was the head coach of the Tucson Sugar Skulls during the 2021 and 2022 seasons before moving over to the Panthers as offensive coordinator and associate head coach prior to the 2023 season. Wooten and Keefe took over the team as co-head coaches after head coach Dennis Arbet left the Panthers with 10 games remaining in that regular season.
"I'm thrilled to be the first head coach and general manager of this great, young organization," Wooten said in a statement on the Freight's website. "Thanks to Jim Hallett, our owner, and Larry McQueary, our president and CEO, for believing in my plan to build a strong foundation for the Freight. With our front office experience and my winning background in the Indoor Football League, we'll create something special that the Fishers community will be proud of, both on and off the field. Fishers is the best place to live voted by America, why not make Fishers the best place to be when it comes to professional Indoor Football?"
Wooten left Iowa with a record of 26-8 in the regular season and 3-2 in the playoffs. He guided the Barnstormers to a 42-38 win over the Sioux Falls Storm to claim the championship; the first in Barnstormers franchise history which includes their time in the Arena Football League. During his time with Iowa, he coached two league Most Valuable Players; quarterbacks Drew Powell in 2018 and Daquan Neal in 2019. He was named IFL Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2018.
He left Iowa for the open head coach and general manager position with the Tucson Sugar Skulls. He posted a 15-15 regular season mark and an 0-1 mark in the playoffs for a 15-16 overall record with the team. He was dismissed after the 2022 season before moving on to the Panthers. Under Wooten and Keefe's leadership, the Panthers pushed back the Storm, 51-41, in the 2023 IFL National Championship Game.
In all, Wooten has reached the playoffs in five of his six seasons as a head coach. Prior to entering the coaching ranks, he played quarterback for eight seasons of indoor/arena football. He also has coached at Cisco College; a junior college located in Texas. His son, Dixie Wooten III, has served as offensive line coach for the Panthers for the past two seasons.
Dixie made an immediate impression on us," Larry McQueary, President of the Freight said. "He's a man of impeccable character and his coaching record speaks for itself. He'll represent the city well and we're elated to have him as our franchise's first Head Coach.
The new Fishers franchise was announced on October 25, 2023 with the intent to begin play in 2025. The new team will take the field at Fishers Event Center located in the town of the same name. Fishers, Indiana is a suburb to the northeast of Indianapolis, the state capital and largest city in the state. Fishers Event Center will have a capacity of 6,500 persons and also will be the home of the Indy Fuel of the ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey league). Jim Hallett is the owner of both the Fuel and new IFL team.
Hallett said during the announcement of the team, "We are excited to bring another professional sports team to the Indianapolis area. The new event center in Fishers is going to become a hub for sports and entertainment and I’m excited to offer another affordable family fun experience in our city."
The city of Fishers has not housed a professional indoor football team before, nearby Indianapolis boasts teams in two of the four major North American sports; the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League and the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association. The area has also been home to a myriad of other sports teams, including the Fuel and the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association.
The Freight are the first confirmed new addition to the IFL for its 17th season, which is expected to begin play in March 2025. The Arizona Rattlers defeated the Massachusetts Pirates in the 2024 IFL National Championship Game, 53-16, on August 17 and will look to defend their title next season.
ANM