Kentucky Drillers

Kentucky Drillers
Established 2010
Folded 2013
Played in Pikeville, Kentucky
at Eastern Kentucky Expo Center
kentuckydrillers.com
HelmetLogo
League/conference affiliations

United Indoor Football League (2011–2012)

Continental Indoor Football League (2013)
Team colors Black, yellow, white
              
Mascot Digger
Cheerleaders Drillbits
Personnel
Owner(s) Rick Kranz
President Rick Kranz
General manager Rick Kranz
Head coach Rick Kranz
Team history
  • Eastern Kentucky Drillers (2010-2012)
  • Kentucky Xtreme (2013–2014)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Home arena(s)

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 (CIFL) in 2013 after playing their first two seasons as a charter member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL) 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] and change their name to the Kentucky Drillers.[7] During this season, Prestonsburg, Kentucky, mayor and Drillers' investor, Jerry Fannin, used city money to help fund the team. It was estimated he spent approximately $7,800 on the team and he was charged in February 2017.[8]

Awards and honors

The following is a list of all (Eastern) Kentucky Drillers players who won individual awards and honors.

SeasonPlayerPositionAward
2011Aric EvansWide Receivers1st Team All-UIFL
2011Rashaud MungroOffensive Lineman1st Team All-UIFL
2011David JonesDefensive Back1st Team All-UIFL
2011Jason ConnorDefensive Back2nd Team All-UIFL
2011Butch AbshireDefensive Back2nd Team All-UIFL
2011Daniel EidsonKicker2nd Team All-UIFL
2012Maurice DouseRunning Back1st Team All-UIFL South
2012Aric EvansWide Receiver1st Team All-UIFL South
2012Joe ParkerOffensive Lineman1st Team All-UIFL South
2012George JacksonDefensive Back1st Team All-UIFL South
2012Allan HollandQuarterbackUIFL South Honorable Mention
2012Lynell SuggsWide ReceiverUIFL South Honorable Mention
2012Phil BlaisingCenterUIFL South Honorable Mention
2012Ellery MooreDefensive LinemanUIFL South Honorable Mention
2012Shawn LewisDefensive LinemanUIFL South Honorable Mention
2012Andre HatchettLinebackerUIFL South Honorable Mention
2012Miquel CarodineDefensive BackUIFL South Honorable Mention
2012Daniel EidsonKickerUIFL South Honorable Mention

Notable coaches

Head coaches

Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Lance Brown 2011 8 6 0 .571 1 1
Rick Kranz 2012–2013 8 12 0 .400 0 0

Coaching staff

Kentucky Drillers staff
Front office
  • Owner/President/Director of Football Operations - 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

Season-by-season results

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)

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. Archived from the original on March 13, 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.
  8. ↑ "Ex-Prestonsburg mayor charged with using city funds for his arena football team". Lexington Herald-Leader. February 23, 2017.
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