From our friends at Monumental Network...
Dean Cokinos, who has more than 10 years of Arena Football League (AFL) coaching experience, has been named the first head coach in Washington AFL team history, announced Roger Mody of Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s ownership group and the managing partner for the AFL team. Most recently Cokinos (Co-KEEN-OSE) was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Storm.
“Dean’s extensive knowledge of the AFL, the indoor game in general and his outgoing personality are a great match for us as we look to assemble a team and begin play in the spring of 2017,” said Mody. “We’re extremely excited to bring Dean on board as our first head coach. He has won an AFL championship, and we are looking forward to working with him to build a championship-caliber team and a supportive fan base in Washington.”
Cokinos made his debut in the AFL in 2005 as an assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and director of personnel for the Nashville Kats, while also scouting all professional arena/indoor league players for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. In 2007, Cokinos became the head coach for the AFL’s Alabama Vipers. During his five years with the team, he led the Vipers to an ArenaBowl championship in 2008 as well as three other playoff appearances. He holds the record for most wins by a head coach in Vipers history with 32. Prior to joining the Tampa Bay Storm, he was the head coach of the New Orleans VooDoo.
“Monumental Sports & Entertainment has given me a great opportunity to help launch its AFL team, and I look forward to the challenge and to bringing the excitement of the AFL to Washington,” said Cokinos. “We have a great ownership group that is committed to sports, entertainment and the community, and that is an important asset as we bring the AFL to the Washington market. AFL games are a fantastic entertainment option, and I can’t wait to kick off the 2017 season at Verizon Center.”
Additionally, Cokinos served as the head coach of the Alabama Hammers in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL), being named the PIFL Coach of the Year after leading the Hammers to a 9-2 record, a six-win improvement from the previous year, and the franchise’s first PIFL championship. He also has served as head coach and general manager for the San Antonio Stampede of the Indoor Football League and head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers of the Arena Football 2 league. Overseas, Cokinos spent seven years as head coach for two teams in the German Football League.
Cokinos was an all-conference running back for the University of Massachusetts Boston Beacons. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education - elementary and secondary education, and earned his master’s degree in physical education and health from Austin Pay State University. Cokinos and his wife, Trina, have two daughters.
In March 2016 Monumental Sports & Entertainment founder, chairman, majority owner and CEO Ted Leonsis and the AFL announced that a Washington team would begin play at Verizon Center in the spring of 2017.
About AFL:
Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. The ESPN family of networks and CBS Sports Network nationally broadcast AFL games each week, culminating with the ArenaBowl on ESPN.
About Monumental Sports & Entertainment:
Monumental Sports & Entertainment, located in Washington, DC, is one of the largest integrated sports and entertainment companies in the country with one of the most diverse partnership groups in all of sports. MSE owns and operates four professional sports teams: the NBA's Washington Wizards, NHL's Washington Capitals, WNBA's Washington Mystics and an as yet unnamed AFL team to debut in 2017. The group also owns and operates Verizon Center in Washington, DC, which is annually ranked as one of the top venues in the world by industry publications Billboard, Pollstar and Venues Today. Monumental Sports & Entertainment also manages Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the state-of-the-art training facility for the Capitals and EagleBank Arena on George Mason University's campus. A new practice facility, projected to debut in 2018 for the Washington Wizards, will also be managed by MSE with a 5,000-seat arena attached to it as the new home court for the Washington Mystics. Both facilities will be built in a joint venture with Events DC and the District of Columbia on the St. Elizabeths site in Ward 8 with the Mystics serving as the lead tenant in the new 5,000-seat arena operated by Events DC. Monumental Sports & Entertainment also owns and operates Monumental Sports Network, a digital platform that covers the region’s sports and entertainment news. Relaunched in 2016, the digital platform extends its coverage capabilities to mobile and OTT streaming devices on Android, iOS, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire and Roku. Visit MonumentalSportsNetwork.com for more information.
