Soul add Kenney as assistant caoch

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Soul have named Arena Football League coaching veteran Darrin Kenney an assistant coach.

Kenney will work primarily with Leroy Thompson in helping the offensive and defensive line for the 2012 season.

The Lycoming (Pa.) College alum enters his sixth year of coaching in the AFL and first with the Soul.  The former 11-year AFL veteran lineman coached in 2010 with the Alabama Vipers and spent the 2008 season with the Grand Rapids Rampage.  Previously, Kenney spent three seasons (2005-07) with the Nashville Kats.

“Darrin is a seasoned veteran who is a proven difference maker where ever he has been,” said Soul head coach Doug Plank.  “He has tutored some of the all-time greats of our game.  Coach Kenney was a fierce competitor as a player and brings out the best in the players he has coached over the years.”

“Adding Darrin solidifies our status as having the best coaching staff in the Arena Football League,” added Soul general manager Tom Goodhines.  “We continue to add quality to our team with every transaction.  Between Doug Plank, Clint Dolezel, Leroy Thompson and Darrin, we now have a coaching staff that has over 47 years of AFL experience, 10 ArenaBowl appearances and five ArenaBowl titles to its credit.”

While with Nashville, Kenney helped develop the team’s reputation as one of the stingiest defenses in the AFL.  In 2007, Nashville ranked No. 3 by allowing 277.9 yards per game, having ranked No. 1 in the league in the same category in 2006 (263.9).  The Kats also led the League in sacks in back-to-back seasons (2005-06) under Kenney’s direction.  On the offensive side, fullback Dan Alexander demolished the single-season AFL rushing touchdown record by following Kenney’s line into the end zone 41 times.

During his playing days, Kenney played for the Tampa Bay Storm (1993), Albany Firebirds (1994-95), Arizona Rattlers (1997-2000) and the San Jose SaberCats (2001-03). He played on three ArenaBowl championship teams (1993, ’97 and 2002) – in addition, every team he played with made it to at least the semifinal round of the playoffs.

Kenney was known as an excellent pass blocker and registered 58 solo and 21 assisted tackles, while tallying 7.0 sacks and 14 pass breakups on defense.  While in college, Kenney earned Middle Atlantic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in both his junior and senior seasons (1990-91) and an All-America selection his senior season.  Following his playing days, Kenney served as color analyst for radio broadcasts for the Soul in 2004.