Philly Sports Jabronis
Dolezel Awarded Coach of the Year
Coach Recognized for a Successful Season
The Arena Football League today announced the Marcum-Moss Coach of the Year award to Soul Head Coach Clint Dolezel. The coach has been recognized, across the league, for his hard work and dedication all season.
“Without of question, Clint is one of the best offensive minds in AFL history,” said Soul General Manager Tom Goodhines. “This is a well deserved award and the entire Soul organization could not be any more proud of him.”
2015 marks Dolezel’s third year as Head Coach of the Philadelphia Soul where he is 39-21 (.650). This season, Dolezel produced a successful 16-4 record, an East Division Championship and clinched the top seed in the American Conference. Also serving as the team’s offensive coordinator, Dolezel’s offense ranked No.1 in the League in touchdowns (151) and No. 2 in total offense (299.8 yards per game) and in scoring (58.9 points per game). Key off-season moves included: re-signing Dan Raudabaugh, Ryan McDaniel and Bryan Robinson, while signing free agents Marco Thomas, Beau Bell and Shaun Kauleinamoku. He has led the Soul to the playoffs in all three seasons with the Soul and one trip to ArenaBowl in 2013. During his first season with the team, the fourth-year AFL head coach led the team to an ArenaBowl appearance, a 14-7 record and an American Conference Championship and was the Soul’s Offensive Coordinator for the Soul when they made it to the ArenaBowl after a 17-4 season in 2012.
Dolezel landed his first professional head coaching position with the San Angelo Stampede (IFL) and guided them to the second round of the playoffs. In 2011, Dolezel was tabbed as head coach of the AFL’s Dallas Vigilantes and made the playoffs with an 11-7 regular-season record and a playoff appearance in his rookie head-coaching season.
The 2012 AFL Hall of Fame inductee had a storied 13-year playing career where he still finds himself amongst the all-time leaders in passing yards (No. 3 with 44,564), touchdown passes (No. 2 with 931), passing attempts (No. 4 with 5,698), and completions (No. 4 with 3,749). He was also named the No. 8 top player in AFL history by the Silver Anniversary Committee in 2012. Dolezel began his playing career in 1995 when he was signed by the Milwaukee Mustangs (1995-97), Texas Terror (1997), Houston ThunderBears (1998-99), Grand Rapids Rampage (2001-03) and led the Rampage to an ArenaBowl XV title. He later signed with the Las Vegas Gladiators (2004-05) before ending his playing days with the Dallas Desperados (2006-08).
Raudabaugh Named League’s Offensive Player of the Year, MVP
The Arena Football League today announced the Russell Offensive Player of the Year and AFL MVP award to Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh. Raudabaugh (6’3, 230, Miami OH) was also awarded First Team All-Arena for his record-breaking season with the Soul.
“It’s a no brainer that Dan deserved both awards, ” said Soul Head Coach Clint Dolezel. “He was a leader in the locker room and worked extremely hard both on the field and off the field. We wouldn’t have won, like we did this season, without him.”
The Soul’s season-long success is due in large part to their quarterback, Dan Raudabaugh. He recorded his 500th career touchdown pass in Week 17. He finished the 2015 season ranked No. 1 in the League in touchdowns (119), No. 2 in passing yards (4,992) and completion percentage (66.3) and No. 4 in interceptions (12). He has contributed to the Soul’s winning outcomes since 2012 and has broken many records along the way. He has wonRussell Offensive Player of the Game every home game of the 2015 season and is catching the eye of NFL Scouts. The Soul quarterback has led the team to three Eastern Division championships as well as two American conference championships and an ArenaBowl appearance in 2013.
Raudabaugh started his AFL career with the Dallas Vigilantes in 2010, where he led the team to playoffs (2011), threw 5,183 yards, 100 touchdowns, 18 interceptions and completed 64% of his attempts in his first full season as a starter. He was awarded Offensive Player of the Week in Week 8 of the 2011 season, after completing 29-of-35 passes for 377 yards and seven touchdowns.
Breen Awarded Offensive Lineman of the Year
Center Recognized for a Successful 2015 Season
The Arena Football League today announced the 2015 Offensive Lineman of the Year award to Soul C Shannon Breen. Breen (6’5, 310, West Virginia Wesleyan) was also awarded First Team All-Arena for his impressive season with the Soul.
“I am extremely proud of the work Breen has put in this year,” said Soul Assistant Head Coach Phil Bogle. “He’s one of those players that makes coaching fun. I enjoy seeing a player put the work in and get rewarded for his dedication to his craft.”
In his first season with the Soul, Breen was a member of the dynamic offensive line that allowed only 10 sacks on QB Dan Raudabaugh, which ranked second in the League. The Soul also ranked No. 2 in total offense (5,397) and the lineman helped Raudabaugh lead the league in passing offense (5,043) and rank second in scoring offense (58.9).
In 2014, Breen started all 21 games with the Cleveland Gladiators. With the Gladiators, Breen was awarded Second Team All-Arena and made an appearance at ArenaBowl XXVII. He started in 18 games with Gladiators in 2013.
Adams Awarded Executive of the Year
The Arena Football League today announced the Executive of the Year award to Soul COO John Adams. Adams has been recognized for his hard work and commitment to the Soul organization for 13 years.
“I am truly honored to accept this award,” said Adams. “When it comes down to it, this is a team award because of the talent of the staff and the support and dedication of an enthusiastic ownership group.”
Adams, who was named to Philadelphia’s “40 Under 40” this year, had the Corporate Sales, Marketing and Ticket Departments near the top in many categories across the League. He went the extra mile to get involved in communities throughout the Philadelphia and South Jersey regions all season. The Soul franchise hosted the first annual Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City, NJ this past May. Before home games this season, the team hosted “Town Takeovers” where the organization and players held a public walkthrough practice in Philadelphia, surrounding towns, and South Jersey. The Soul also helped raise awareness for a variety of causes, including: LGBT, the Jason Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project.
The Soul COO, who previously served as the Director of Operations and Assistant General Manager, re-joined the team after stints with the Lancaster Barnstormers Professional Baseball Club of the Atlantic League (Assistant General Manager, Business Development) and Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League (COO/General Manager).
In 2003, while with the Trenton Thunder Professional Baseball Club, the AA Affiliate of the New York Yankees, Adams played a crucial part in helping the Thunder win the Larry MacPhail Trophy, which recognizes one team in Minor League Baseball (over 180 teams) for having the top promotional effort, both on and off of the field.
Adams started with the Soul before their inaugural year and each of his years in the Arena Football League resulted in him being selected by the league to head operations for the ArenaBowl Championship game (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008). In 2013, the Soul led the AFL in sponsorship sales, secured is second straight conference championship title and was selected as the Arena Football League’s Staff of the Year with Adams responsible for the operations of the team.
