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SALT LAKE CITY - Citing a need for a break after a difficult season in which Utah went 6-11 and lost in the Wild Card Round of the Arena Football League Playoffs, Blaze head coach/general manager Danny White resigned Monday afternoon.
"After a lot of thought and soul-searching and conferring with my family, I have decided to resign from the Utah Blaze," said White. "It's time from me to take a break. It's been a long, hard season, but I have never been more proud of any team that I have coached because of the way they came back."
Utah Blaze owner John Garff accepted White's resignation.
"Danny has been the face of our organization since the inception of the franchise and we appreciate his tireless effort and diligence over the last three seasons in putting us on the AFL map. His effort will not be forgotten," Garff said. "Danny has been a tremendous ambassador for the league and our franchise and has represented the organization in a manner consistent with the Garff Family values and for that we are indebted to him."
In three seasons with the Blaze, White compiled a 21-30 (.412) overall record and 0-3 playoff mark. In 2008, the Blaze (6-10 regular season) lost their first nine games, but won six of their last seven to qualify for the AFL Playoffs for the third time in the three-year history of the franchise. The Blaze hosted their first-ever playoff game last Saturday and were eliminated from the playoffs with a 49-44 loss to the Colorado Crush.
"I am grateful for everyone in the organization," White said. "I couldn't have asked for anything better."
White joined the Blaze in 2006 for their inaugural season and coached the team to a 7-9 regular-season record and a postseason berth in just their first year. In 2007, he led the Blaze to an 8-8 regular-season record and again qualified for the postseason. White's overall AFL coaching record is 163-95 (.632), including a postseason record of 20-13 (.606). White, a 2002 inductee to the AFL Hall of Fame, is second in all-time AFL victories.
White was the first head coach and general manager of the Arizona Rattlers until 2004. He was named the 1993 AFL Coach of the Year in only his second season as head coach. In 13 seasons, White led the Rattlers to ArenaBowl berths in 1994, 1997, 2002, 2003 and 2004, emerging as the ArenaBowl Champions in 1994 and 1997.
The team will launch a comprehensive search for a new head coach, who will lead the franchise into its fourth season of play in the Arena Football League.
