Calcagni to coach LR team
Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The coaching and frontoffice structure of Arkansas ’ All American Football League franchise disappeared in a flash Sunday night, only to be recreated Monday morning.
Former Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Ron Calcagni will be named the team’s head coach in a news conference at 4 p.m. today at War Memorial Stadium. Calcagni initially was named team president a little more than a week ago, but agreed to take over the coaching reins Monday after his initial choice for head coach informed him he would not take the job.
Alicia Cooper, who formerly served as CEO and owner of Arkansas Specialty Care — an orthopedic care organization — will take over as team president.
“I truly believe in the model of the AAFL,” Cooper said. “I’ve always been attracted to startups and clean-ups [reviving businesses ]. We can make this work.” Calcagni said he had finalized a deal with former Razorbacks assistant and Henderson State Coach Jesse Branch, who recruited Calcagni as a high school quarterback from Ohio while coaching at Arkansas. Branch said Monday he decided to pass on the job Sunday night after having dinner at Calcagni’s home.
“It was just one of those things that I decided was not best for me,” said Branch, who had been working as a television commentator for the Gulf South Conference.
Calcagni said Branch was still committed to the job when the two met Sunday evening.
“He was all excited and everything was good,” Calcagni said. “He was looking for his last hurrah, basically. I guess it just came over him. I think he was a little bit nervous, a little bit scared.” Calcagni had agreed to coach quarterbacks and receivers under Branch, but now will head a staff that he says will be made up of six to eight coaches. As of Monday, only one assistant coach — former Youngstown State quarterback Ray Isaac — was set to serve on Calcagni’s staff, likely as a quarterbacks or receivers coach.
As a coach, Calcagni brings more 20 years of experience to the AAFL, having formerly served as an assistant at Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Tulsa, Houston and Arkansas State.
Calcagni said Monday he hadn’t examined his contract with the league closely enough to determine how much of a salary cut, if any, he will absorb by making the move from president to head coach.
“I know my marketplace,” Calcagni said. “I know Arkansas. I have expertise in coaching and relationships. It’s time to start evaluating players. It’s time to get it going.” One of those players is former Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner, who signed a contract with the team Aug. 18. Stoerner said he’s only “crossed paths” with Calcagni, but he likes the idea of having a head coach with an offensive background.
“There’s a mutual respect there,” Stoerner said. “He’s been there and done it.” Stoerner, who has been appearing in local television ads promoting the league, said having another former Razorbacks quarterback as head coach should help the franchise as season tickets become available.
“Let’s not be hardheaded,” Stoerner said. “If you don’t put people out there with names people know, it’s going to be tough.”
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