Lehigh Valley Steelhawks
{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Lehigh Valley Steelhawks
| current = 2018 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season
| logo = LehighValleySteelhawks.PNG
| helmet = Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Helmet Logo.png
| founded = 2010
| city = Allentown, Pennsylvania
at the PPL Center
| misc = [http://www.lvsteelhawks.com LVSteelhawks.com]
| uniform =
| colors = Black, Vegas gold, white
{{color box|black}} {{color box|#C5B358}} {{color box|white}}
| coach = Danton Barto
| owner = Glenn Clark
| chairman =
| president = Glenn Clark
| general manager = Michael Clark
| mascot = Talon
| nicknames =
| league =
Indoor Football League (2011–2012)
- United Conference (2011–2012)
- Atlantic Division (2011)
Professional Indoor Football League (2013–2015)
- National Conference (2014)
American Indoor Football (2016)
- Northern Division (2016)
National Arena League (2017–2018)
| team_history =
- Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (2011–2018)
| no_league_champs = 0
| no_conf_champs = 1
| no_div_champs = 0
| league_champs =
| conf_champs = PIFL: 2014
| div_champs =
| playoff_appearances = IFL: {{IFL Year|2012}}
PIFL: 2013, 2014, 2015
AIF: 2016
NAL: 2017
| no_playoff_appearances = 6
| arena_years =
- Stabler Arena in Bethlehem (2011–2014)
- PPL Center in Allentown (2015–2018)
|folded=2019}}
The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks were a professional indoor football team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Steelhawks began play as an expansion team in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2011.
The Steelhawks moved to the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 2013, where they made their only championship game appearance, losing PIFL Cup III to the Nashville Venom. The team joined American Indoor Football for the 2016 season after the PIFL folded, which lasted one season before that league also folded. They joined the National Arena League for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. The Steelhawks were the Lehigh Valley's second indoor football team, following the also-defunct Lehigh Valley Outlawz of the Continental Indoor Football League (2005–2008). The Outlawz played their home games at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania until 2014. In 2015, they began playing their home games at the PPL Center on Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Steelhawks owner Glenn Clark sought to sell the team following the 2018 season. After failing to find new ownership for the Steelhawks, the team suspended operations before the 2019 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-spt-steelhawks-hiatus-20190214-story.html |title=Lehigh Valley Steelhawks to go on hiatus for 2019 arena football season |work=The Morning Call |date=February 14, 2019}} The "hiatus" became permanent when no suitable buyer was ever found.
History
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 |access-date=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 |access-date=December 26, 2013}} Brooke Trautwein, the fan who submitted the Steelhawks name, was given a prize package that included season tickets and Steelhawks' merchandise.
In August 2013, Clark announced that the Steelhawks would be leaving the IFL for the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) after two seasons.{{cite web |url=https://www.mcall.com/2012/08/08/steelhawks-moving-for-2013-season/ |title=Steelhawks moving for 2013 season |date=August 8, 2012 |publisher=The Morning Call |work=www.mcall.com |access-date=January 27, 2014}} The Steelhawks finished in second place overall in the 2013 PIFL season, but lost their semifinal playoff game.
The Steelhawks finished the 2014 season with a 6–6 record and second in the National Conference. The Steelhawks defeated the Trenton Freedom by a score of 49–38 in the National Conference championship game to advance to PIFL Cup III.{{cite web |url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/07/lehigh_valley_steelhawks_advan.html |title=Lehigh Valley Steelhawks advance to Pro Indoor Football League championship game |author=Josh Folck |date=July 5, 2014 |publisher=PennLive LLC. |work=www.lehighvalleylive.com |access-date=July 7, 2014}} where they were defeated 43–64 by the Nashville Venom.{{cite web |url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/07/lehigh_valley_steelhawks_lose_3.html |title=Lehigh Valley Steelhawks lose to Nashville Venom in Pro Indoor Football League championship game |author=Josh Folck |date=July 12, 2014 |publisher=PennLive LLC. |work=www.lehighvalleylive.com |access-date=July 14, 2014}}
In the 2015 season, the Steelhawks announced that they would be moving to the newly constructed PPL Center.{{cite web |url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/08/lehigh_valley_steelhawks_annou_6.html |title=Lehigh Valley Steelhawks announce three-year deal to play at PPL Center in Allentown |author=Greg Joyce |date=August 21, 2014 |publisher=Lehigh Valley Live |work=www.lehighvalleylive.com |access-date=August 22, 2014}} They finished fourth overall in the PIFL and lost their semifinal playoff game to the Columbus Lions.
File:Triangle Torch vs Lehigh Valley Steelhawks 3.jpg (black jerseys with red and yellow accents) vs. Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (gold jerseys with black accents) during a game at Dorton Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, March 25, 2016]]
With the PIFL not having enough teams to remain viable, the Steelhawks moved to American Indoor Football (AIF) for the 2016 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-steelhawks-moving-to-a-new-indoor-league-for-2016-20150914-story.html |title=Steelhawks moving to a new indoor football league for 2016 |author=Keith Groller |date=September 14, 2015 |publisher=The Morning Call |work=www.mcall.com |access-date=September 14, 2015}} The Steelhawks finished third in the North Division and made it to the division championship game before losing to the West Michigan Ironmen. After the season ended, the team announced it would not be returning to the AIF for the 2017 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/the-lehigh-valley-steelhawks-indoor-football-team-will-not-be-returning-to-the-aif-in-2017--/n-5181654 |title=The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Indoor Football Team Will Not be Returning to the AIF in 2017... |publisher=OurSports Central |date=July 13, 2016}}
On July 19, 2016, the Steelhawks announced they had joined the Arena Developmental League (which became the National Arena League) as a charter member of the new league.{{cite web |url=http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-steelhawks-league-affilation-change-0719-20160719-story.html |title=Steelhawks announce new league affiliation for 2017 |date=July 19, 2016 |publisher=The Morning Call |work=www.mcall.com |access-date=July 20, 2016}} In the NAL's inaugural 2017 season, the Steelhawks finished in second place overall before losing at home to the third place Columbus Lions in the semifinal playoff game.
Following the season, the Steelhawks franchise's only head coach Chris Thompson left the team to take an offensive coordinator position with the Arena Football League's Albany Empire expansion team for the 2018 season. The Steelhawks hired Danton Barto as the new head coach for the 2018 season and the team finished with a 0–15 record. At the end of the season, owner Glenn Clark and president Mike Clark announced the Steelhawks were for sale.{{cite web |url=https://lastwordonsports.com/2018/08/22/steelhawks-up-for-sale/ |title=Lehigh Valley Steelhawks up for sale |website=LastWordOnSports.com |author=Connor Ferguson |date=August 22, 2018}} The team announced a hiatus prior to the 2019 season while continuing to seek new ownership. After closing up shop, the team's turf would be acquired by the IFL's Oakland Panthers, who now go by the Bay Area Pathers after a move to San Jose.
Season-by-season results
{{See also|2011 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season|2012 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season|2013 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season|2014 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season|2015 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season|2016 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season|2017 Lehigh Valley Steelhawks season}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%;" |
| style="background:#fcc;"|League champions
| style="background:#dfd;"|Conference champions | style="background:#d0e7ff;"|Division champions | style="background:#96cdcd;"|Playoff berth | style="background:#c8a2c8;"|League leader |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;" | |||
| rowspan="2" | Season
!rowspan="2" | Team !rowspan="2" | League !rowspan="2" | Conference !rowspan="2" | Division !colspan="4" | Regular season !rowspan="2" | Postseason results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Ties |
| 2011
| 2011 || IFL || United || Atlantic | 2nd || 4 || 10 || 0 || align=left | | |||
| {{IFL Year|2012}}
| 2012 || IFL || United || | bgcolor=#96cdcd | 4th || 6 || 8 || 0 || align=left | Lost United Conference Semi-final 21–79 vs. Sioux Falls | |||
| 2013
| bgcolor=#96cdcd | 2nd || 7 || 5 || 0 || align=left | Lost PIFL Semi-final 40–44 vs. Richmond | |||
| 2014
| 2014 || PIFL || bgcolor=#dfd | National || | bgcolor=#96cdcd | 2nd || 6 || 6 || 0 || align=left | Won National Conference Championship 49–38 vs. Trenton | |||
| 2015
| 2015 || PIFL || || | bgcolor=#96cdcd | 4th || 6 || 5 || 0 || align=left | Lost PIFL Semifinal 41–69 vs. Columbus | |||
| 2016
| bgcolor=#96cdcd | 3rd || 6 || 2 || 0 || align=left | Won Northern Semifinal 54–52 vs. River City | |||
| 2017
| bgcolor=#96cdcd | 2nd || 9 || 1 || 0 || align=left | Lost Semifinal 50–52 vs. Columbus | |||
| 2018
| 2018 || NAL || || | 6th || 0 || 15 || 0 || align=left | | |||
| rowspan="5" colspan="6"|Totals
! 44 | 52 | 0 | colspan="3" | All-time regular season record (2011–2018) |
| 2 | 6 | — | colspan="3" | All-time postseason record (2011–2018) |
| 46 | 58 | 0 | colspan="3" | All-time regular season and postseason record (2011–2018) |
Current roster
| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;" |
| colspan=9 style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks|border=2}}; text-align:center;" | Lehigh Valley Steelhawks roster |
|---|
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Quarterbacks
{{NFLplayer| 5|Caleb Walton|link=no|rookie=y}} Fullbacks
Wide receivers {{NFLplayer| 6|David Lewis|link=no|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer| 3|Charles McClain}} {{NFLplayer|81|Leroy McClain|link=no|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer |
| -|Yusef Reddick|link=no|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer| 4|Franklin Williams|link=no|rookie=y}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Offensive linemen {{NFLplayer|68|Peter Borum|link=no|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer |
| -|Shawn Lockett|link=no}}
{{NFLplayer|77|Shaq Wallen|link=no|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer|72|Michael Williams|link=no|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer |
| -|Reginald White|link=no|rookie=y}}
Defensive linemen {{NFLplayer|58|Jihad Abdur-Rahman|link=no|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer|12|Dante Holmes|link=no}} {{NFLplayer |
| -|Steve Mercado|link=no|rookie=y}}
| style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Linebackers {{NFLplayer |
| -|Dakota Everett|link=no|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer |
| -|Tony Patterson|link=no|rookie=y}}
Defensive backs {{NFLplayer| 2|Marquez Gollman|link=no|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer|24|Rodney Hall|link=no}} {{NFLplayer |
| -|Mike McMillan|link=no}}
{{NFLplayer |
| -|Cory Morrow|link=no|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer| 7|Leroy Neysmith|link=no|rookie=y}} Special teams {{NFLplayer|10|Spencer Hotaling|link=no|rookie=y}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Reserve lists {{NFLplayer |
| -|Robert Brown|link=no|DB|Susp.}}
{{NFLplayer |
| -|Justin Broome|link=no|rookie=y|DB|Susp.}}
{{NFLplayer |
| -|Shon Chisom|link=no|rookie=y|QB|Susp.}}
{{NFLplayer |
| -|Tyler Deane|link=no|rookie=y|OL|Susp.}}
{{NFLplayer| 6|Brandon Fuentes|link=no|DB|Susp.}} {{NFLplayer|11|Seth Higgins|link=no|rookie=y|QB|IR}} {{NFLplayer |
| -|Anthony Kelly|link=no|rookie=y|WR|Exempt}}
{{NFLplayer|13|Bryan Morris|link=no|rookie=y|QB|IR}} {{NFLplayer |
| -|Brandon Lathrop|link=no|OL|DNR}}
{{NFLplayer |
| -|Jakeem Polk|link=no|rookie=y|DB|DNR}}
{{NFLplayer| 1|Brandon Renford|link=no|WR|Susp.}} {{NFLplayer| 8|Warren Smith|d=quarterback|QB|Susp.}} {{NFLplayer |
| -|Schnayder Termidor|link=no|rookie=y|LB|DNR}}
{{ubl |Rookies in italics |{{URL|1=http://lvsteelhawks.com/team/roster/|2=Roster}} updated May 23, 2018 |22 Active, 13 Inactive }} → More rosters |
Awards and honors
The following is a list of all Steelhawks players who have won league awards:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Offensive Rookie of the Year | ||
| style="width:50px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Season
! style="width:150px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Player ! style="width:100px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{PIFL Year|2013}} | Thomas Gilson | WR |
{{col-3}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Special Teams of the Year | ||
| style="width:50px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Season
! style="width:150px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Player ! style="width:100px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{PIFL Year|2014}} | Dwayne Hollis | KR |
{{col-3}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Defensive Rookie of the Year | ||
| style="width:50px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Season
! style="width:150px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Player ! style="width:100px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{PIFL Year|2015}} | Joe Powell | DB |
{{col-3}}
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Most Valuable Player | ||
| style="width:50px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Season
! style="width:150px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Player ! style="width:100px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{NAL Year|2017}} | Warren Smith | QB |
{{col-3}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan="4" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Most Improved Player | ||
| style="width:50px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Season
! style="width:150px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Player ! style="width:100px; {{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Lehigh Valley Steelhawks}};"| Position | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{NAL Year|2017}} | Warren Oliver | WR |
{{col-3}}
{{col-3}}
{{col-end}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.lvsteelhawks.com/ Official website]
{{Lehigh Valley Steelhawks seasons}}
{{NAL}}
{{PIFL}}
{{AIF}}