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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Blaze, struggling through a 1-6 season as they approach the midway point of their 2010 Arena Football League campaign, replaced the team's entire coaching staff Tuesday.
The new Blaze head coach and offensive coordinator will be Ron James, who will replace former head coach Ernesto Purnsley for the remainder of the season. Former Utah State star Jermaine Younger will serve as offensive/defensive line coach, and Jeff Hoffman will be the defensive coordinator.
If James' name sounds familiar to local AFL fans, it should. Nearly two years ago, he was promoted to the head coaching position of the old Utah Blaze franchise, replacing Danny White. However, due to the demise of the former Arena Football League, James never officially logged a game as the head coach of the Blaze.
"Professional sports is performance based and they had a sluggish start," James said Tuesday when introduced as the new coach. "What we are looking to do is change the climate of the locker room and the production on the field."
Prior to his promotion in July 2008, James had completed his second season as the team's defensive coordinator and director of player personnel. He has spent 11 seasons in the AFL.
James was previously the head coach of the Las Vegas (now Cleveland) Gladiators for two seasons (2005-06).
James said one of his goals will be to reduce the number of turnovers that have plagued the Blaze the last two weeks.
"Arena football is a possession-based game," James said. "When you turn the ball over it turns the tide of the game and gives extra possessions to the other team."
James was in attendance at the last Blaze game and witnessed the numerous fumbles and boos from the crowd.
"Fans are frustrated when you are not winning," James said. "We need to give our fans something to cheer about ... We need to put a great product on the field and stand behind it off the field."
Younger, a former star linebacker at Utah State, joins the Blaze after serving as the offensive/defensive line coach and special teams coordinator for the Albany Conquest of the af2 in 2008. He is also an eight-year AFL veteran player as a fullback/linebacker with New Jersey, New England, Toronto, Las Vegas, Georgia and Utah.
Hoffman most recently served as the northwest regional scout for the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL. He also was the head coach of the Albany Conquest of the af2 in 2008.
The Blaze hit the road this week to take on the Cleveland Gladiators on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
