By CHIP MINEMYER
cminemyer@tribdem.com
JOHNSTOWN —
Johnstown will have a new indoor football team with a new name – but a familiar head coach.
Quenteen Robinson was introduced Thursday as coach of the Johnstown Generals of the Ultimate Indoor Football League, which will begin play in February.
During a news conference at Cambria County War Memorial Arena - where the Generals will play their home games - league and team officials unveiled the name and logo.
“We want to put together a championship team that Johnstown can be proud of, that Cambria County can be proud of,” said Generals co-owner Timothy Clark, who will also serve as director of football operations.
Johnstown has been home to three indoor football teams in the past two decades - the Jackals, J-Dogs and RiverHawks.
And Robinson has been affiliated with all three - as an all-star player and most recently as player/general manager with the RiverHawks in 2008.
The former Greater Johnstown High School standout said he is looking forward to the challenge of guiding the Generals in the UIFL.
“I’ve been in and out of the arena game, and I’ve been through the ups and downs,” Robinson said. “I know what it takes to make it work here. And I didn’t come here just for the experience. I’m here to win a championship.”
Clark and ownership partner/general manager Ahmad Pruitt hail from Ohio, and the league is based in Canton.
Other confirmed teams in the UIFL will be located in Canton; Northern Kentucky; Huntington, W.Va.; and Pikeville, Ky.
League co-founder Andrew Haines said more teams will be announced soon.
“We think our league footprint will be real nice for people to travel to games,” Haines said.
Haines believes ticket prices will be attractive to fans, and he said the league has developed a cost structure that will be reasonable for team owners. Ticket prices will range from $7 to $25, with season-ticket and special packages available.
The goal, he said, is to provide affordable family-oriented entertainment and build successful franchises.
“If teams are not profitable or break-even, they’ll only be around for so long,” Haines said. “We need teams that can make money. That’s what we’re focusing on with the UIFL.”
He and the Generals officials said the focus is also on bringing in players who will help connect the franchise to the city and surrounding area.
“We want to bring a championship to Johnstown,” Pruitt said. “But we want to be champions in the community as well.”
“This community deserves a champion, and I plan to work as hard as it takes to do that for the community,” Robinson said.
The new coach said he will be looking for skill sets, work ethic and a willingness to get involved with the community as he builds his roster.
“I want to know what kind of person you are,” Robinson said. “You might be the best player on the field, but if you’re not willing to get out into the community and do what it takes, then this might not be the best place for you.”
Haines said the league will hold a players combine and draft in October in Canton. Then, individual teams can also sign free-agent players.
Clark said the Generals will hire front-office staff in the coming weeks and then prepare for the combine.
“We want to build an arena football dynasty here,” Clark said.
