Soul coach Dolezel headed to AFL Hall of Fame

PHILADELPHIA (The Phanatic Magazine) – The Arena Football League announced the 2012 AFL Hall of Fame Class at ArenaBowl XXV and heading the list is current Philadelphia Soul assistant head coach/offensive coordinator, Clint Dolezel. 

The former standout quarterback finished his brilliant 13-year playing career in 2008 with the Dallas Desperados with amazing career numbers: completed 3,749-of-5,698 passes (65.8 percent), a QB Rating of 117.75 and 95 victories as a starting quarterback.  The inductions will be held during the Arena Football League’s 2013 opening weekend.

“He might be the most competitive player that ever put on the pads,” said Philadelphia Soul general manager and AFL Hall of Fame Operating Board member, Tom Goodhines.  “He was already acting as a coach on the field and was consistently among the League’s best year-in and year-out and has the statistics to back it up.  His teams were always in the hunt for a title whenever he was under center.”

Dolezel is No. 3 in career passing yards (44,564) and No. 2 in touchdown passes (931).  Clint is also the first quarterback in AFL history to throw for over 400 yards in a game and first to do it six times.  He matched one of the League’s most vaunted then-records by throwing for 11 touchdowns in a game three different times.  He threw for over 100 touchdowns in a season twice (2006-07) and led his team to a 15-win season (15-1 in 2007).  He also has a championship to his credit when he led the Grand Rapids Rampage to the title in 2001.

Others from the 2012 Hall of Fame Class include: QB Sherdrick Bonner, the Greatest Quarterback in AFL History according to the Silver Anniversary Committee in 2012; HC Mike Dailey, a two-time ArenaBowl champion coach (XIII, XIX); WR/DB Randy Gatewood, a six-time All-Arena selection and three-time All-Ironman selection; current Iowa Barnstormers HC Mike Hohensee, who won ArenaBowl XX as a Head Coach and owns the third spot in AFL history for most regular season wins (135); Founding Partner William Niro, one of the original founders of the AFL; and DB Clevan Thomas, a five-time All-Arena selection and 2002 Rookie of the Year and two-time Defensive Player of the Year.