MISSOULA PHOENIX’S JOHNSON/VELK AND BEAMON SWEEP AAA HONORS;

IDAHO’S JARA AND GLACIER’S WHEAT HONORED FOR TURNING PROGRAMS AROUND IN AA

COACH OF THE YEAR AAA

In the closest Coach of the year voting ever, Missoula Phoenix head coach, Willie Beamon edged the Utah Wolverines veteran coach, Eric Drage for the AAA division Coach of the Year title. Beamon lead the Phoenix into widely unexpected success as the Phoenix entered the AAA division for the first time and were expected to struggle. Beamon was credited around the board for getting his players to play at higher than expected levels. One board member suggested that “the Phoneix don’t have the most athletic players in the league”. Drage was credited for leading the Wolverines into their first ever Championship game appearance with the top offense in the AAA. The final voting results are as follows:

Willie Beamon, Missoula Phoenix – 40

Eric Drage, Utah Wolverines – 39

Jared Emerick, Utah Shock - 32

Vaea Fiefia, Cache Valley Bears - 30

Trent Sutton, Pocatello Predators - 28

Sean Powell, Idaho Falls Mustangs - 20

Missoula Phoenix head coach, Willie Beamon, surprised, but happy to be named AAA Coach of the Year in 2008.

COACH OF THE YEAR AA

The Glacier Knights were continued to be recognized for their impressive turnaround for AA doormat to AA playoff contender as head coach, Will Wheat was recognized by the other AA teams as the top head coach in the league. Wheat edged out Jesus Jara of the Idaho Matadors, who almost completed a GM/head coach sweep and Roland Rainey of the Great Falls Gladiators, who tied for second. The Knights, who had only won 1 game in 4 previous seasons, won 3 games in 2008 and were playoff contenders heading into the final game of the regular season. Had they beaten the Snake River Sabercats on the final game, they would have been a playoff team with a record of 4-4. The final order of the voting is as follows:

1 - Will Wheat, Glacier Knights

(tie) 2 - Jesus Jar, Idaho Matadors

(tie) 2 – Roland Rainey, Great Falls Gladiators

4 – Jason Stucki, Eastern Idaho Lionz

5 – Todd Rietmann, Boise Speed

Glacier Knights head coach, Will Wheat, accepts the AA Coach of the Year award for turning Knight program around in '08.

AAA GM OF THE YEAR

The General Manager (GM) of the Year award for the Rocky Mountain Football League, grading out in 4 primary categories, including: Home Game Presentation, stat reporting, league communications/participation and Web site design and updates, went decidedly to the Managing Team of Dr. Mike Johnson and John Velk of the Missoula Phoenix. Johnson and Velk stepped into Missoula management over the past year and turned the organization of the program around. According to AAA Commissioner, Dave “these guys were just perfect in all categories and extremely timely on all requirements”. The perfect example where in managing a football program, “two heads are better than one”. Sire also went on to give honorable mention to Utah Shock GM, Kyto Khouangrasvongsay and Pocatello Predator GM, Travis Hobson for a “great effort, especially for player GM’s. All three of these teams were always responding to issues, always getting stats reported on time and just did a remarkable job,” Sire said.

Missoula's John Velk, completes a Missoula sweep of the administrative awards, accepting the AAA GM of the Year Award with a near perfect season.

AA GM OF THE YEAR

The General Manager (GM) of the Year award for the AA Division, judged exactly the same way as in the AAA, was an even more difficult decision for the RMFL League Office to access. Several Teams/GM’s, including Eastern Idaho (Jason and Katrina Stucki), Morgan (Andy Prince), Snake River (Jay and Brandy Hatfield) amd the Idaho Matadors (Jesus Jara) had a near perfect season. The Matadors and Lionz were neck and neck in all categories, however, the Matadors excelled beyond all in the updating and development of their web site, perhaps the best RMFL web site of both leagues. Jesus Jara was awarded the “General Manager of the Year” award for outstanding effort in the running of the Matadors in the AA in 2008. The reigning champions, the Stucki’s were also recognized for another great season, and once again, having to manage the team through a playoff run at the same time, having a baby.

Matador GM, Jesus Jara just missed winning the AA Championship, but gets rewarded for cementing the franchise as a quality RMFL power for years to come.