Connecticut Coyotes
{{short description|Arena football team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Connecticut Coyotes
| logo = Connecticuttcoyotes.jpg
| helmet = Connecticut Coyotes Helmet Logo 1996.png
| founded = 1995
| folded = 1996
| city = Hartford Civic Center
in Hartford, Connecticut
| colors = Navy, red
{{Color box|#002147|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#ff0000|border=darkgray}}
| coach = Lary Kuharich
| owner = Ben Morris
Scott Gerard
| league =
Arena Football League ({{AFL Year|1995}}–{{AFL Year|1996}})
- National Conference (1995–1996)
- Eastern Division (1995–1996)
| team_history =
- Connecticut Coyotes (1995–1996)
| no_conf_champs = 0
| conf_champs =
Prior to 2005, the AFL did not have conference championship games
| no_div_champs = 0
| div_champs =
Prior to 1992, the AFL did not have divisions
| no_league_champs = 0
| league_champs =
| playoff_appearances =
| no_playoff_appearances = 0
| arena_years =
- Hartford Civic Center (1995–1996)
}}
The Connecticut Coyotes were an arena football franchise based in Hartford, Connecticut. The Coyotes played in the Eastern Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League.
History
On June 22, 1994, the Arena Football League awarded the state of Connecticut an expansion franchise, and chose the name "Coyotes" in October of the same year.{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/2008/12/21/hartford-familiar-with-arena-football-flops/ |title=Hartford Familiar With Arena Football Flops |date=December 21, 2008 |author=Jeff Otterbein |publisher=Hartford Courant |work=www.courant.com |access-date=January 10, 2014}} After a tough first season, in which the Coyotes finished 1-11, team president Robert B. Dixon announced that the team would be up for sale.{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/1995/08/09/off-season-offers-no-break-in-action-for-coyotes/ |title=Off-season Offers No Break In Action For Coyotes |date=August 9, 1995 |author=Roy Hasty |publisher=Hartford Courant |work=www.courant.com |access-date=January 10, 2014}} On October 26, 1995, Connecticut Development Authority sold the Coyotes to Ben Morris and Scott Gerard for $750,000.{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/1995/10/27/group-buys-coyotes-from-state/ |title=Group Buys Coyotes From State |author=Tommy Hine |date=October 27, 1995 |publisher=Hartford Courant |work=www.courant.com |access-date=January 10, 2014}} Morris wasted no time hiring Lary Kuharich to become the second coach in Coyotes history.{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/1995/11/03/kuharich-named-coyotes-coach/ |title=Kuharich Named Coyotes Coach |date=November 3, 1995 |author=Dom Amore |publisher=Hartford Courant |work=www.courant.com |access-date=January 10, 2014}}
However, a horrendous record of only 3 wins in 26 games over 2 seasons led to a disbandment of the team following the 1996 season, after Morris failed to sell the franchise to the Madison Square Garden.{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/1996/11/01/coyotes-run-in-afl-ends/ |title=Coyotes' Run In AFL Ends |author=John Altavilla |date=November 1, 1996 |publisher=Hartford Courant |work=www.courant.com |access-date=January 10, 2014}}
The city of Hartford would receive another team in 1999 when the New York CityHawks became the New England Sea Wolves. However, this team's tenure in the city would also be short-lived, as the team moved to Toronto following the 2000 season.
Season-by-season
{{Start NFL SBS}}
|-
|1995 || 1 || 11 || 0 || 3rd NC Eastern || --
|-
|1996 || 2 || 12 || 0 || 3rd NC Eastern || --
|-
!Totals || 3 || 23 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
|}
Notable players
=All-Arena players=
The following Coyotes players were named to All-Arena Teams:
- FB/LB Les Barley (1)
Notable coaches
=Head coaches=
Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 1996 Arena Football League season.
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:140px;"|Name
! rowspan="2" | Term ! colspan="4" | Regular Season ! colspan="2" | Playoffs ! rowspan="2" | Awards |
|---|
| W
! L ! T ! Win% ! W ! L |
| style="text-align:center;"|Rick Buffington
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|1995}} | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"|11 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|1|11}} | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"| |
| style="text-align:center;"|Lary Kuharich
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|1996}} | style="text-align:center;"|2 | style="text-align:center;"|12 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|2|12}} | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"| |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=history&team=27&year=1996 Connecticut Coyotes at ArenaFan.com]
{{Connecticut Coyotes}}
{{Defunct Arena Football League franchises}}
Category:American football teams established in 1995
Category:American football teams disestablished in 1996
Category:American football teams in Connecticut