Maniacs Name Head Coach

Laurel, MD (October 1, 2008) - Matt Steeple, a nine-year Arena Football League (AFL) veteran and seasoned coach at the professional level has been named the first Head Coach of the Maryland Maniacs, who will make their debut in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in the spring of 2009.

Steeple, who played in the AFL from 1996 to 2004 for the Florida Bobcats, Iowa Barnstormers, New Jersey Red Dogs, and New York Dragons, will be entering his fifth season as a professional coach and his third as head coach. In 2007 and 2008, Steeple was the head coach of the Chesapeake Tide of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL).  In 2007, Coach Steeple led the Tide to the playoffs in their inaugural season.  In 2006 he served as the Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Line/Defensive Line Coach for the Everett Hawks of AF2. In 2000 he served as a Player/Coach for the New Jersey Red Dogs of the AFL.

A Baltimore, Maryland native, Steeple attended Northern High School in Baltimore where he was All-State in football, wrestling and lacrosse. Following graduation, he moved on to a highly successful college career at Morgan State University, where he was named Freshman of the Year in 1990. In his junior and senior seasons, he led the team in tackles, was a First Team All-Conference defensive tackle, and was also the team's Defensive Player of the Year. Steeple finished his Morgan career as a first team Black College and Division 1-AA All-American. Steeple signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent in 1994 after attending the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

Steeple began his coaching career as the Offensive Line/Defensive Line Coach and Assistant Defensive Coordinator at the Charles H. Hickey School for Boys. He coached at the school from 1999 to 2001.  In 2002 and 2003 he held the same positions at Reginald F. Lewis High School and was named the head coach in 2004.

"We are pleased and honored to name Matt Steeple as the first head coach in the history of the Maryland Maniacs," stated Maniacs General Manager John Wolfe, "Signing a coach with the experience and high caliber resume of Matt, shows the organization's commitment to success on the field."

The Maniacs, who will call Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland home, are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The IFL is a national league based in Omaha, Nebraska and has teams from Maryland to Alaska, Louisiana to Montana, and New York to Texas. For more information on the Maryland Maniacs please visit www.marylandmaniacs.com.