Reader comments
Utah Blaze: Team president says new coach will live in Utah

Anonymous | 7:38 a.m. July 3, 2008

A coaching change will be good for the Blaze. Although we are Danny White fans I think he was past his prime. Good luck in your search, we love the product.

jeremy | 8:17 a.m. July 3, 2008

I am excited to see who the new coach will be. He has to make sure are widerecievers stay here. With the type of threat we have with whittaker mckelvey and boone we will be a top offense for years to come.

Anonymous | 8:54 a.m. July 3, 2008

Outside of Ron James, there are many top coordinators in the league who could be great coaches. Brian Partlow in Cleveland (OC for Colorado when they won the ArenaBowl, Head Coach for Austin in 2007, recognized as one of the top offensive minds in the league), and Terry Malley (OC in San Jose, 3 ArenaBowls in 6 years, they own us) are just a couple. Lee Leslie was great in the NIFL and AF2, but if they choose him just because he is a family friend of the Garffs, the franchise will be shooting itself in the foot, they need experience!

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 10:03 a.m. July 3, 2008

It seems as if James is already hired after reading the article. That would be the second time he was an assistant under a Head Coach that was fired and he surfaced as the candidate as Head Coach (??). If a team is losing all the coaches are responsible not just the head coach, so he is just as responsible as Danny White. Enough with recycling someone that has never won before. We need someone that has proven they can win the big game. Hire someone that has won a Ring.

Anonymous | 10:14 a.m. July 3, 2008

Terry Malley is the guy all AFL teams want, but he doesn't seem to be leaving SJ anytime soon.

Anonymous | 10:15 a.m. July 3, 2008

Enter commentdave ewart is your man check out what he has done in the AFL

AFL Guru | 11:54 a.m. July 3, 2008

Dave Ewart has done nothing ever. He has interviewed for every job in the past 8-10 years. Must be a reason that he has not been hired.
I like Ron James because he seems to have the respect of his players. He also has a passion for the league.
Even an assistant on a great team is not guaranteed. Many times, great assistants are just that, great assistants. You are never guaranteed with anyone. They need to choose a coach that has the ideals and work ethic that they desire in all of thier businesses.
We all hope they get the right guy for the job.

Forget Boise | 12:55 p.m. July 3, 2008

Lee Leslie is a gunslinger who will bring an even more exciting game to town.

Anonymous | 1:53 p.m. July 3, 2008

I think they should bring back Hunkie and give him a shot at being a Head Coach, or see if Clint Dozel is ready to retire and begin coaching. But let's stop recycling these guys that have had a chance and done nothing with it. I can name a number of coaches with AFL experience that have done well as coordinators Walt Housman, Jeff Fuller, Brent Winter, Brian Partlow what about the job he's done in Cleveland. Time for some new blood. AF2 coaches, Rich Ingold, Derek Stingley, Fred Blentikoff Jr. Sparky McEwen. Why hire a coach that has just been fired for not getting the job done or anyone from that staff? Doesn't make sense.

Gimmick Video Sport | 2:19 p.m. July 3, 2008

Just bring in any kid who knows how to use a controller...this isn't real football!

Ric "Gunny" Matthews | 9:53 p.m. July 3, 2008

If the Utah Blaze does its homework, and looks honestly at its Head Coach position, there are lots of qualified personnel to fill that head coach position. Look at past coaches or better yet. Look at coaches in the af2. Plenty of talent and experience. Just give them a chance. I have been watching AFL since 1990, and the af2 since 2000. Lots of prospects out there. Danny White was hired in 1990 to coach the Arizona Rattlers, you need young blood and a coach who can call in the right plays. Onside kicks should be a last resort and you should retreive the ball, not give the other team another touchdown. Look around the next coach is closer, than you think. Don't sell yourself short of the ultimate goal, the Championship of Arenabowl.

SaberCatFanatic | 1:08 a.m. July 4, 2008

The Blaze are running around like chickens with their heads cut off. the Blaze will be bottom dwellers as long as the Garffs own the team. Just look how they run it......they signed a deal to televise the home games but not the road games and then complain about loosing mone because the home attendance was down. Blaze fans your team will always be second fiddle as long as the Garaffs are in control

You Friend in San Jose,

SaberCatFanatic

AFL Guru | 2:58 p.m. July 4, 2008

Hey everybody, let's get a whole bunch of names and throw them against the wall and see if anything sticks. Nobody can guarantee what a potential coach is or isn't going to do.
If you look at a first opportunity as head coach, you probably wouldn't hire most every coach in this league. And how can you guarantee that a good assistant is going to be a good head coach. You can't.
I think the af2 is different from the AFL. At most positions the caliber of athlete is not even close. In the same way that it seems Danny White had trouble with a changing gamein the AFL, an af2 guy is no guarantee.
Let's see who they hire and hope it works. There are now guarantees.
Also, I see nothing but class from the Garffs. They brought us pro football and they want it to succeed.

anon... | 2:45 p.m. July 7, 2008

The names of Hunkie Cooper is forbidden to be said in Utah Blaze stories as the man is the worst defensive coordinator in the world... any sport... ever!

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.