Daytona Beach Thunder

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Daytona Beach Thunder

Founded	2006
League	AIFL 2006 WIFL 2007-present
Team History	Daytona Beach Thunder 2006-present
Arena	Ocean Center
Based in	Daytona Beach, Florida
Team Colors	Black, gold, silver, white
President of Football Operations	?
Head Coach	Leon Bright
Championships	0
Division Titles	0

The Daytona Beach Thunder is a charter member of the World Indoor Football League that began play in February, 2006 in the American Indoor Football League under coach Ervin Bryson and owners Kevin and Zack McDonald. The team made some pre-season headlines when former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and FOX broadcaster Terry Bradshaw signed an actual players contract in a "blatant publicity stunt" at a Daytona Beach speaking engagement. Bradshaw never played.

The team also garnered attention for its unique logo and its 45-foot sleeper bus that transported the team to its away games and delivered relief supplies to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. A partnership with the local PBS station produced a 30-minute show that aired weekly during the season.

On Friday, March 24, 2006, after losing their first three games, the Thunder got their first-ever win 49-24 against the Augusta Spartans on the road. The team put itself in position for a playoff berth at 5-4, but a three-game losing streak all but denied the Thunder the post-season. The team finished its inaugural season with a 6-8 record, with six losses coming at a combined margin of 19 points.

On Monday, June 12, the Thunder parted ways with Bryson. After an extensive search, the Thunder named former CFL Rookie of The Year, New York Giant and Tampa Bay Buc Leon Bright as Head Coach/Director Of Football Operations.

Tragedy struck the team on February 26, 2007, when rookie defensive back Javan Camon was killed after a hard but clean hit during a game with the Columbus Lions. The player, once a captain at the University of South Florida, likely broke his neck in the hit. [1]

Major arena news hit Daytona Beach with the word that Barry Wagner (former Orlando Predators & San Jose SaberCats WR/DB) would be joining the team after getting cut from the Tampa Bay Storm at the beginning of the 2007 AFL season.[2]