Kentucky Drillers

Kentucky Drillers
Founded 2010
Folded 2013
League United Indoor Football League (2011-2012)
Continental Indoor Football League (2013)
Team history Eastern Kentucky Drillers (2011-2012)
Kentucky Drillers (2013-future)
Based in Pikeville, Kentucky
Arena Eastern Kentucky Expo Center
Colors Black and Yellow
Owner(s) Rick Kranz
President Rick Kranz
Head coach Rick Kranz
Championships 0
Dancers Drillbits
Mascot Digger
Website kentuckydrillers.com

The Kentucky Drillers were a professional indoor football team based in Pikeville, Kentucky. The franchise started as the Eastern Kentucky Drillers and joined the Continental Indoor Football League in 2013 after playing their first two seasons as an expansion team and charter member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League for its inaugural 2011 season. The Owner of the Drillers was Rick Kranz. The Drillers played their home games at the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville, Kentucky.

Franchise history

2011

On November 26, 2010, the UIFL announced that the team in Pikeville, Kentucky would be named the Eastern Kentucky Drillers.[1] The Drillers lost their first game in franchise history, a 44-49 defeat to the hands of the Saginaw Sting.[2] Even in the defeat, two Drillers (Aric Evans and David Jones), won the first ever Offensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week Awards in the history of the Ultimate Indoor Football League.[3] The following week, the Drillers played their first ever home game at Eastern Kentucky Expo Center, and in front of 3,500 fans, the Drillers won 37-26 over the Huntington Hammer.[4]

2012

The Drillers made few changes to their team going into 2012, but the hiring of Defensive Coordinator, Jimmy Brookins was going to be vital to another Ultimate Bowl run, as he looked to keep the Drillers atop the UIFL rankings for defense.[5]

2013

On July 19, 2012, it was announced that the Drillers would leave the UIFL and join the Continental Indoor Football League,[6] as well as changed their name to the Kentucky Drillers[7]

Players of note

Current roster

Kentucky Drillers roster
Quarterbacks
  •  5 Kameron Bryant

Running Backs

  • 34 Derek Dickerson

Wide Receivers

  • 18 Eric Foxworth
  •  1 Kelvin Irving
  •  6 Isiah Thoams
  •  9 Perry Wright
Offensive Linemen
  • 92 Autuan Baker
  • 60 Jesse Carmon
  • 70 Kyle MacCarthy
  • 79 Josh Puckett

Defensive Linemen

  • 44 Rodrick Davis
  • 98 Jerimah Fennel
  • 69 Brandon Lee
Linebackers
  • 55 Jarell Dennis
  •  2 Phillip Sumlin

Defensive Backs

  •  8 Ron Burgess
  •  3 Chris Dickerson
  • 23 James Houston
  •  4 Jamell Mingo
  • 21 Troy Smith

Kickers

  • 14 Caleb Petry
Injured Reserve
  • Currently vacant

Exempt List

  • Currently vacant

Practice Squad

  • Currently vacant

Rookies in italics
Roster updated April 20, 2013
21 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

→ More rosters

Awards and honors

The following is a list of all (Eastern) Kentucky Drillers players who have won Individual Awards and Honors.

Season Player Position Award
2011 Aric Evans Wide Receivers 1st Team All-UIFL
2011 Rashaud Mungro Offensive Lineman 1st Team All-UIFL
2011 David Jones Defensive Back 1st Team All-UIFL
2011 Jason Connor Defensive Back 2nd Team All-UIFL
2011 Butch Abshire Defensive Back 2nd Team All-UIFL
2011 Daniel Eidson Kicker 2nd Team All-UIFL
2012 Maurice Douse Running Back 1st Team All-UIFL South
2012 Aric Evans Wide Receiver 1st Team All-UIFL South
2012 Joe Parker Offensive Lineman 1st Team All-UIFL South
2012 George Jackson Defensive Back 1st Team All-UIFL South
2012 Allan Holland Quarterback UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012 Lynell Suggs Wide Receiver UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012 Phil Blaising Center UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012 Ellery Moore Defensive Lineman UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012 Shawn Lewis Defensive Lineman UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012 Andre Hatchett Linebacker UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012 Miquel Carodine Defensive Back UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012 Daniel Eidson Kicker UIFL South Honorable Mention

Notable coaches

Head coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2013 Continental Indoor Football League season.

Name Term Regular Season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Lance Brown 2011 8 6 0 .571 1 1
Rick Kranz 2012-present 8 12 0 .400 0 0

Coaching staff

Kentucky Drillers staff
Front Office
  • Owner/President/Director of Football Oppoerations - Rick Kranz
  • Community Relations - Charles Stephens
  • Executive Assistant - Angela McGinnis
  • Marketing Executive - Stephanie McKinney
  • Director of Player Personnel - Trey Randall

Head Coach

  • Head Coach – Rick Kranz

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator –
  • Quarterbacks/Running Backs/Wide Receivers - Clyde Harrison
  • Offensive Line – Stan Wrubluski
  

Defensive Coaches

  • Defensive Coordinator – Jimmy Brookins
  • Defensive Line - Stan Wrubluski
  • Linebackers –
  • Secondary –

Special Teams coaches

  • Special Teams Coordinator – Clyde Harrison

Statistics and records

Season-by-season results

Note: The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play.

League Champions Conference Champions Division Champions Wild Card Berth League Leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason Results
Finish Wins Losses Ties
Eastern Kentucky Drillers
2011 2011 UIFL 3rd 8 6 0 Won UIFL semifinals (Hammer) 20-4
Lost Ultimate Bowl I (Sting) 69-86
2012 2012 UIFL South 2nd 6 4 0
Kentucky Drillers
2013 2013 CIFL 7th 2 8 0
Totals 16 18 0 All-time regular season record (2011–2013)
1 1 - All-time postseason record (2011–2013)
17 19 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2011–2013)

* Season currently in progress

References

  1. ↑ "Pikeville, KY Team Name Announced: Eastern Kentucky Drillers". www.theuifl.com. UIFL. November 26, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Saginaw Sting capture season opener". Midland Daily News. February 19, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Drillers duo highlight weekly honors". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 26, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Drillers Open with Win". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 28, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Brookins Named EKY Defensive Coordinator". www.oursportscental.com. OurSports Central. September 23, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Drillers returning for 2013 season". www.floydcountytimes.com. Floyd County Times. January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Drillers making switch to Continental Indoor Football League". www.wkyt.com. WYMT. July 19, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.

External links