Mike Hohensee, one of four men to have significant involvement with the AFL in each of its 23 seasons, did not believe the league would return until he watched the opening kickoff of the Rush's game against Iowa in April.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — When the Arena Football League went dark in 2009, Chicago Rush coach Mike Hohensee did not think it would resurface in any form. Hohensee, one of the biggest names in AFL history, was ready to move on."It got to the point where I took my Rush gear to Goodwill," he said. "I was sending out resumes and going on interviews."
Hohensee, one of four men to have significant involvement with the AFL in each of its 23 seasons, did not believe the league would return until he watched the opening kickoff of the Rush's game against Iowa on April 2.
Today
What: Gladiators vs. Chicago Rush
When: 7 p.m.
Where: The Q.
Radio: WJMO AM/1300.
"That's how volatile it was -- and still is a little bit," he said. "I understand how it feels to have your sport taken away. Next year, obviously, is not guaranteed. I've told our players: 'I don't have a two-year plan, I have a one-year plan.' "
The one-year plan is working well. The Rush is tied with Milwaukee atop the National Conference Midwest Division at 5-2. It visits The Q tonight for a division game against the Gladiators (3-4).
Chicago won the first of two meetings, 59-56, on April 9 in Illinois.
Hohensee is excited for any opportunity he gets to see Steve Thonn, coach of the Gladiators. As an assistant with the Albany Firebirds in the early 1990s, Hohensee coached receiver Thonn.
"I don't think Steve's given the recognition that he should get as a player in this league," Hohensee said. "I know everyone talks about his offensive mind and things like that, but he was a tremendous player. He was one of the first guys who mastered the double-move downfield by the middle guy. He wasn't the fastest receiver in the league, but he understood angles and he was smart."
Hohensee is the only head coach in the history of the Rush, which is in its ninth season. He has led the Rush to four division titles and five trips to the AFL semifinals. Chicago won ArenaBowl XX in 2006 despite a 7-9 regular-season record.
"We needed to win our last two games of the regular season just to get in," he said. "We won six in a row to win it all. We had a very good football team at the beginning but went through a lot of injuries. Basically, everybody wrote us off except the guys in the locker room. I could not have been happier for our players."
Hohensee has been an AFL head coach for 16 seasons and member of a coaching staff for 21. His 135 total victories as a head coach rank third all-time behind Tim Marcum and Danny White. Hohensee's teams have been to the playoffs 12 times; he is tied for fourth with 12 postseason victories.
For all his success, though, Hohensee never has been AFL coach of the year. Many who follow the league are baffled by the omission.
"I've never wanted to win the award for myself -- I've wanted a chance to brag about my players, staff and organization," he said. "I've had some of the best staffs in arena football. They've done incredible things. We haven't always had the most talented teams, but we've won a lot of games because we've worked extremely hard and brought in good human beings."
One of the most enjoyable moments of Hohensee's career came several years ago, when one of his players, receiver Donovan Morgan, presented him with a coach-of-the-year award. Morgan wanted to let Hohensee know how much he meant to him. Morgan now plays for Tulsa.
"Donovan wanted to thank me for giving him an opportunity, believing in him and treating him like a man," Hohensee said. "The award sits in my trophy case. It means more to me than you can imagine."
As quarterback of the Pittsburgh Gladiators on June 19, 1987, Hohensee threw the first touchdown pass in AFL history. He connected with Russell Hairston on a 42-yarder.
"It was a matter of scheduling," Hohensee said. "Somebody was going to do it, you know? But it's cool to be the first. I remember the play. We knew we were going to score on it."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com; 216-999-4664