2011 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season

{{short description|Indoor Football League team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| logo =

| team = Lehigh Valley Steelhawks

| teamcolor =

| year = 2011

| record = 4-10

| division_place = 2nd Atlantic

| conference place =

| league place =

| coach = Chris Thompson

| general manager = Michael Clark

| owner = Glenn W. Clark

| stadium = Stabler Arena
124 Goodman Drive
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015

| playoffs = did not qualify

| previous = N/A

| next = 2012

}}

The 2011 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season was the first season as a professional indoor football franchise and their first in the Indoor Football League (IFL). One of 22 teams competing in the IFL for the 2011 season, the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks were members of the Atlantic Division in the United Conference.

In July, 2010, the Indoor Football League (IFL) announced that there would be an expansion franchise placed in Lehigh Valley for the 2011 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/07/indoor_football_league_set_to.html |title=Indoor Football League set to introduce a Lehigh Valley-based franchise |date=July 7, 2010 |publisher=PennLive LLC. |work=www.lehighvalleylive.com |accessdate=December 26, 2013}} It was also announced that the team would be owned by Glenn W. Clark, a Wilmington, Delaware businessman. Later in July the team announced that they had named Dan Kuhn as the team's general manager and would be holding a "Name The Team" contest was held to choose a name for the organization. Over 700 names were submitted and the top five were chosen by management.{{cite web |url=https://www.mcall.com/2010/07/22/new-team-tabs-dynamite-as-its-gm-but-still-needs-nickname-2/ |title=New team tabs 'Dynamite' as its GM, but still needs nickname |date=July 22, 2010 |author=Keith Groller |publisher=The Morning Call |work=www.mcall.com |access-date=December 26, 2013}} These names were Vipers, Ironmen, Blast, Gamblers, and Steelhawks. Fans were then asked to vote on the name they thought would be best for the team with over 70% of the votes being cast for Steelhawks.{{cite web |url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/08/lehigh_valley_steelhawks_is_wi.html |title=Lehigh Valley Steelhawks is name of new Indoor Football League team |author=Alyssa Young |date=August 26, 2010 |publisher=PennLive LLC. |work=www.lehighvalleylive.com |accessdate=December 26, 2013}} Brooke Trautwein, the fan who submitted the Steelhawks name, was given a prize package that included season tickets and Steelhawks' merchandise.

The team played their home games under head coach Chris Thompson at the Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Steelhawks earned a 4-10 record, placing 2nd in the Atlantic Division, and failed to qualify for post-season play.