Mike Wilpolt
Encyclopedia
Mike Wilpolt is a former American football
wide receiver
/defensive back
for the Charlotte Rage
(1992–1993), the Las Vegas Sting (1994–1995), and the Anaheim Piranhas
(1996) in the Arena Football League.
in 2004 for the Indiana Firebirds
. :)He took over the Firebirds after Steve DeBerg
was fired after an 0-5 start to the season. Wilpolt led the Firebirds to eight wins in their last 11 games and were favored by many to win the 2005 championship
, but the Firebirds folded before the 2005 season
started due to an ownership dispute.
† opponent's won-lost record during the 2004 season
as the team's defensive coordinator
in 2005. Over the course of the next 3 seasons, Wilpolt's defense has been in the top 5 twice and the top 10 all three years. He left the Avengers on October 10, 2007 when he was named the new head coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators
who then relocated to Cleveland, Ohio
.
in his first game as the team's head coach. After their stunning victory over New York, Wilpolt led his team to a 66-63 victory over the Utah Blaze
. The following week, the Gladiators defeated the defending National Conference Champion Columbus Destroyers 66-63. After losing three consecutive games, the Gladiators defeated the Los Angeles Avengers 83-69. In just seven games, Wilpolt had doubled the number of wins the Gladiators had in 2007.
† Signifies opponent's won-lost record for the 2008 season
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
/defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for the Charlotte Rage
Charlotte Rage
The Charlotte Rage was a team in the Arena Football League.-History:They competed in the 1992-1996 seasons. They played their home games at the Charlotte Coliseum, then also home of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association....
(1992–1993), the Las Vegas Sting (1994–1995), and the Anaheim Piranhas
Anaheim Piranhas
The Anaheim Piranhas were a professional arena football team that played in the Arena Football League from 1994 - 1997. They played their home games at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The team was originally known as the Las Vegas Sting, prior to moving to Anaheim in 1996. The team was owned...
(1996) in the Arena Football League.
Indiana Firebirds Head Coach
Wilpolt was the head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
in 2004 for the Indiana Firebirds
Indiana Firebirds
The Indiana Firebirds were a team in the Arena Football League.The team was based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Home games were played at the Conseco Fieldhouse, also the home of the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball...
. :)He took over the Firebirds after Steve DeBerg
Steve DeBerg
Steven Leroy DeBerg had a long career as an American Football quarterback. His career spanned 21 years over 3 decades. Despite the fact that large portions of his career were spent as a backup, DeBerg ultimately accumulated some impressive NFL statistics, particularly during the early 1990s, when...
was fired after an 0-5 start to the season. Wilpolt led the Firebirds to eight wins in their last 11 games and were favored by many to win the 2005 championship
ArenaBowl XIX
ArenaBowl XIX was the 2005 championship game of the Arena Football League , and was played at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first-ever neutral-site title game in AFL history drew 10,822 fans to see the Colorado Crush defeat the Georgia Force 51–48 to claim the Foster ArenaBowl...
, but the Firebirds folded before the 2005 season
2005 Arena Football League season
The 2005 Arena Football League season was the 19th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Colorado Crush, who defeated the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX. The AFL changed its playoff format to allow the top four teams per conference to make the playoffs. Previously, the...
started due to an ownership dispute.
| 2004 Schedule | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Date | Result | W-L † | |
| at Austin Wranglers Austin Wranglers The Austin Wranglers were an arena football team based in Austin, Texas. They played four seasons in the Arena Football League from 2004 to 2007 and spent one season in AF2, the AFL's developmental league, in 2008. They made playoff appearances in the AFL in 2006 and in AF2 in 2008... |
March 14, 2004 | Won 64-41 | 8-8 | |
| vs. Georgia Force Georgia Force The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings... |
March 20, 2004 | Won 73-36 | 7-9 | |
| vs. Grand Rapids Rampage Grand Rapids Rampage The Grand Rapids Rampage was an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team. They were coached by Steve Thonn.-History:... |
March 26, 2004 | Won 45-42 | 1-15 | |
| at Colorado Crush Colorado Crush Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009... |
April 3, 2004 | Won 45-42/OT | 11-5 | |
| vs. Carolina Cobras Carolina Cobras Not to be confused with the Los Angeles Cobras, who played in the 1988 AFL season.The Carolina Cobras were an expansion franchise in the Arena Football League... |
April 11, 2004 | Won 65-31 | 6-10 | |
| at Grand Rapids Rampage | April 17, 2004 | Won 67-49 | 1-15 | |
| vs. Arizona Rattlers Arizona Rattlers The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center... |
April 25, 2004 | Lost 43-46 | 11-5 | |
| at Las Vegas Gladiators | May 2, 2004 | Lost 38-60 | 8-8 | |
| vs. Detroit Fury Detroit Fury The Detroit Fury were an Arena Football League team. The team began play in 2001 and was based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, at The Palace of Auburn Hills, also the home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. The team was co-owned by William Davidson, who owned the Pistons, along with... |
May 7, 2004 | Won 68-59/OT | 5-11 | |
| vs. Colorado Crush | May 16, 2004 | Won 59-56 | 11-5 | |
| at Chicago Rush | May 23, 2004 | Lost 37-53 | 11-5 | |
| This list only applies to the games coached by Wilpolt | ||||
† opponent's won-lost record during the 2004 season
Los Angeles Avengers Coordinator
Wilpolt was signed by the Los Angeles AvengersLos Angeles Avengers
The Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:...
as the team's defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
in 2005. Over the course of the next 3 seasons, Wilpolt's defense has been in the top 5 twice and the top 10 all three years. He left the Avengers on October 10, 2007 when he was named the new head coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators
Las Vegas Gladiators
The Cleveland Gladiators are an arena football franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio which plays in the Arena Football League. The team is part of the East division of the AFL's American Conference. The Gladiators play all of their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which they share with the NBA's...
who then relocated to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
.
Cleveland Gladiators Head Coach
In week 1, Wilpolt coached the Gladiators to a 61-49 victory against the New York DragonsNew York Dragons
The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...
in his first game as the team's head coach. After their stunning victory over New York, Wilpolt led his team to a 66-63 victory over the Utah Blaze
Utah Blaze
The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :...
. The following week, the Gladiators defeated the defending National Conference Champion Columbus Destroyers 66-63. After losing three consecutive games, the Gladiators defeated the Los Angeles Avengers 83-69. In just seven games, Wilpolt had doubled the number of wins the Gladiators had in 2007.
| 2008 Schedule | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Date | Score | W-L † | |
| vs. New York Dragons New York Dragons The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded... |
March 3, 2008 | Won 61-49 | 4-4 | |
| vs. Utah Blaze Utah Blaze The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :... |
March 9, 2008 | Won 66-63 | 0-8 | |
| at Columbus Destroyers Columbus Destroyers The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of... |
March 15, 2008 | Won 59-57 | 2-5 | |
| at New Orleans | March 21, 2008 | Lost 24-63 | 6-2 | |
| BYE WEEK | Week 5 | |||
| at Dallas Desperados Dallas Desperados The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008.... |
April 5, 2008 | Lost 51-58 | 7-0 | |
| vs. Colorado Crush Colorado Crush Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009... |
April 11, 2008 | Lost 66-69 | 3-4 | |
| at Los Angeles Avengers Los Angeles Avengers The Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:... |
April 19, 2008 | Won 83-69 | 3-5 | |
| at New York Dragons | April 26, 2008 | 0-0 | 4-4 | |
| vs. Philadelphia Soul Philadelphia Soul The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII... |
May 2, 2008 | 0-0 | 7-0 | |
| vs. Orlando Predators Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000... |
May 9, 2008 | 0-0 | 6-2 | |
| at Colorado Crush | May 17, 2008 | 0-0 | 3-4 | |
| at Tampa Bay Storm Tampa Bay Storm The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.... |
May 23, 2008 | 0-0 | 2-5 | |
| vs. Dallas Desperados | May 31, 2008 | 0-0 | 7-0 | |
| vs. Chicago Rush Chicago Rush The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the... |
June 7, 2008 | 0-0 | 5-2 | |
| at Philadelphia Soul | June 14, 2008 | 0-0 | 7-0 | |
| vs. Columbus Destroyers | June 21, 2008 | 0-0 | 2-5 | |
† Signifies opponent's won-lost record for the 2008 season
Playing Stats
Key: Rec - receptions; Yards - Yards gained through receptions; TD - receiving touchdowns| Year | Team | Rec | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Charlotte Rage | 11 | 119 | 1 |
| 1994 | Las Vegas Sting | 19 | 170 | 1 |
| 1996 | Anaheim Piranhas | 3 | 26 | 0 |
| Career | 33 | 315 | 2 | |
Coaching Stats
Key: W: Wins; L: Losses; Div: Division W-L; Conf: Conference W-L; N/C: Non-conference W-L; Home: Home W-L; Road: Road W-L; PS: Points for; PA: Points against| Year | Team | W | L | Div | Conf | N/C | Home | Road | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Indiana | 8 | 3 | 5-1 | 5-3 | 3-0 | 5-1 | 3-2 | 604 | 515 |
| 2008 | Cleveland | 9 | 7 | 4-4 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 2-1 | 1-2 | 327 | 359 |
| Career | 17 | 10 | 9-5 | 7-5 | 4-1 | 7-2 | 4-4 | 931 | 874 | |