The 2003 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers season was the team's second season as a member of the AF2. The Pioneers finished third out of four in the American Conference Northeastern Division with a 6–10 record, the same as the year before, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Head coaches
Following the Pioneers' inaugural campaign, head coach Terry Karg decided not to renew his contract with the team.[1] Larry Kuharich, a former Tampa Bay Storm coach, was hired as the team's second coach.[2] However, shortly before the season started, Kuharich resigned and left the team for AF2 parent the Arena Football League. Dean Cokinos filled the head coaching vacancy for the remainder of the season before resigning himself, leaving the Pioneers' head coaching position once again vacant.[3][4]
Schedule
Regular season
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site |
|---|
| 1 | Bye |
| 2 | April 5, 2003 | Greensboro Prowlers | L 46–25 | 0–1 | Greensboro Coliseum |
| 3 | April 11, 2003 | Mohegan Wolves | L 41–38 | 0–2 | First Union Arena |
| 4 | April 18, 2003 | Quad City Steamwheelers | L 66–27 | 0–3 | iWireless Center |
| 5 | April 26, 2003 | Rochester Brigade | W 58–35 | 1–3 | First Union Arena |
| 6 | May 5, 2003 | Albany Conquest | L 68–49 | 1–4 | Times Union Center |
| 7 | May 10, 2003 | Norfolk Nighthawks | L 46–32 | 1–5 | Norfolk Scope |
| 8 | May 16, 2003 | Norfolk Nighthawks | L 49–35 | 1–6 | First Union Arena |
| 9 | May 23, 2003 | Greensboro Prowlers | W 43–40 | 2–6 | First Union Arena |
| 10 | May 31, 2003 | Richmond Speed | W 50–49 | 3–6 | Richmond Coliseum |
| 11 | Bye |
| 12 | June 14, 2003 | Mohegan Wolves | L 55–22 | 3–7 | Mohegan Sun Arena |
| 13 | June 20, 2003 | Rochester Brigade | W 54–53 | 4–7 | First Union Arena |
| 14 | June 27, 2003 | Richmond Speed | W 48–33 | 5–7 | First Union Arena |
| 15 | July 5, 2003 | Albany Conquest | L 59–58 | 5–8 | Times Union Center |
| 16 | July 11, 2003 | Albany Conquest | W 55–49 (OT) | 6–8 | First Union Arena |
| 17 | July 18, 2003 | Mohegan Wolves | L 63–59 | 6–9 | Mohegan Sun Arena |
| 18 | July 26, 2003 | Rochester Brigade | L 41–38 | 6–10 | Blue Cross Arena |
Attendance
| Week | Opponent | Attendance |
|---|
| 3 | Mohegan Wolves | 5,135 |
| 5 | Rochester Brigade | 5,204 |
| 6 | Albany Conquest | 5,419 |
| 8 | Norfolk Knighthawks | 4,652 |
| 9 | Greensboro Prowlers | 4,563 |
| 13 | Rochester Brigade | 4,857 |
| 14 | Richmond Speed | 4,513 |
| 16 | Albany Conquest | 5,457 |
| Total | | 39,800 |
| Average | | 4,975 |