Gladiators Head Coach Mike Wilpolt named 2008 AFL Coach of the Year

CLEVELAND - Cleveland Gladiators Head Coach MIKE WILPOLT has been selected as the 2008 AFL Coach of the Year, as voted by AFL head coaches, fans, players and the Arena Football League Writers Association, the AFL announced today. Wilpolt becomes the first head coach in Gladiators franchise history to earn the honor.

Following a disappointing 2-14 season, Gladiators owner JIM FERRARO named Wilpolt head coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators on September 9, 2007. Wilpolt made the transition to Cleveland when Ferraro moved the team that October.

In just his first season as the Gladiators head coach, Wilpolt guided his team to a 9-7 regular season finish, qualifying for the playoffs for just the fifth time in the 11-year franchise history.

With a 73-70 win over the Georgia Force on Monday night, Wilpolt will lead his team into the National Conference Championship game on Saturday, July 12 at 1 p.m. versus the Philadelphia Soul.

In 2004, Wilpolt took over as the head coach of the Indiana Firebirds, after a dismal 0-5 start to the season under the direction of Steve DeBerg. With Wilpolt, the Firebirds went 8-3 and making him a finalist for the Coach of the Year award.

Other AFL Head Coaches receiving votes in 2008 included Arizona's KEVIN GUY, Chicago's MIKE HOHENSEE and Philadelphia's BRETT MUNSEY.

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