Clint Dolezel Explained

Clint Dolezel
Current Team:Texas A&M–Commerce Lions
Position:Head coach
Birth Date:25 March 1970
Birth Place:Waco, Texas, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lbs:205
Undraftedyear:1994
High School:Robinson (TX)
College:East Texas State
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Pastcoaching:
Aflstatlabel1:Comp. / Att.
Aflstatvalue1:3,749 / 5,698
Aflstatlabel2:Passing yards
Aflstatvalue2:44,564
Aflstatlabel3:TD-INT
Aflstatvalue3:931–155
Aflstatlabel4:Passer rating
Aflstatvalue4:117.75
Aflstatlabel5:Rushing touchdowns
Aflstatvalue5:41
Afl:436
Coachregrecord:103–52
Coachplayoffrecord:12–7
Coachrecord:115–59

Clint Dolezel (born March 25, 1970) is an American football coach and former professional arena football player in the Arena Football League (AFL).

Dolezel was a quarterback in the AFL before becoming the head coach of the AFL's Philadelphia Soul from 2013 until the league folded in 2019. He played college football at East Texas State, and was in the AFL for 13 seasons from 1995 to 2008. Dolezel first became a head coach in 2010 with the San Angelo Stampede Express of the Indoor Football League (IFL). After just a single season, Dolezel returned to the AFL as the head coach of the Dallas Vigilantes. After the Vigilantes franchise suspended operations, Dolezel joined the Philadelphia Soul as their offensive coordinator under head coach Doug Plank. Plank left the Soul following the 2012 season, and the Soul promoted Dolezel to head coach. He was named the inaugural head coach of the Frisco Fighters in the Indoor Football League before the 2020 season. On December 7, 2022, it was announced that Dolezel would return to his alma mater, Texas A&M University–Commerce, to serve as the school's head football coach.[1]

As an AFL player, he was originally signed by the Milwaukee Mustangs. In his career, he also played for the Texas Terror/Houston Thunderbears, Grand Rapids Rampage, Las Vegas Gladiators, and the Dallas Desperados. Dolezel was also a scout for the Dallas Cowboys 2007.

Early life

Born in Waco, Texas, to Johnnie and Judy Dolezel, Clint attended Robinson High School in Robinson, Texas, where he was a standout quarterback and golfer.

College career

After graduating from Robinson, Dolezel attended Cisco College and was a student and a letterman in football. In football, he was a second-team All-Conference selection as a sophomore. After graduating from Cisco, he committed to the University of Southern Mississippi. However, a coaching change landed Dolezel at East Texas State University to play for coach Eddie Vowell. Dolezel was a letterman in football, golf, and track and field at East Texas State, becoming one of just three documented three-sport athletes in the history of the university. He quarterbacked the Lions in 1992 and 1993 and ended his career as a Lion throwing for 3,152 yards and 23 touchdowns over 2 seasons. The Lions finished 8–2 during his junior year and finished second in the Lone Star Conference.

Professional career

After establishing himself as one of the best young quarterbacks in the AFL, Dolezel signed with the Chicago Bears in 2000.[2]

Dolezel, along with wide receiver Terrill Shaw, helped the Grand Rapids Rampage win the 2001 ArenaBowl. Dolezel and Shaw became teammates again playing for the Dallas Desperados in 2006.

In September 2003, the Rampage traded Dolezel to the Las Vegas Gladiators for Sedrick Robinson, Paul LaQuerre and Hardy Mitchell.[3]

On March 12, 2006, Dolezel threw his 700th career touchdown, becoming just the third quarterback in AFL history to do so. The Desperados won that game versus the Tampa Bay Storm 64–35.

On April 16, 2007, in a 51–41 home win against the Philadelphia Soul, Dolezel became the first professional quarterback to throw 800 touchdown passes.[4] In 2007, Dolezel became the first quarterback in league history to lead his team to 15 wins in a season. Despite the 15–1 record, Dallas lost to the 7–9 Columbus Destroyers in the first round of the playoffs. In a 2008 game versus the Grand Rapids Rampage, Dolezel became the first quarterback in league history to throw for 900 touchdown passes in a career.

Statistics

Year Team Passing Rushing
1995Milwaukee101283.312121113.5351
1996Milwaukee91656.31032180.9231
1997Texas25938866.83,3776915117.41977
1998Houston34355861.54,2288117108.417165
1999Houston37455667.34,3368019112.32243
2001Grand Rapids36457463.43,9528010111.28142
2002Grand Rapids33950567.13,8787919113.47−91
2003Grand Rapids36154566.24,4318915119.21082
2004Las Vegas38158565.14,4289312118.922489
2005Las Vegas30246564.93,5057816112.8610
2006Dallas37557365.44,68510511122.222213
2007Dallas37553370.44,4741079128.210−21
2008Dallas25738866.23,0466610118.811126
Career 3,7495,69865.844,564931155117.7515912841
Stats from ArenaFan:[5]

Coaching career

Dolezel had said that he would like to be a coach after his career is over.[6] It was announced that on January 19, Dolezel would become the offensive coordinator for the Florida Firecats' 2009 season (due to the Arena Football League suspending operations for 2009).[7] He was the head coach of the San Angelo Stampede Express of the Indoor Football League in 2010.

Dolezel was announced as the head coach for the Dallas Vigilantes for the 2011 season. The team did not play in 2012 for unknown reasons.

On August 21, 2012, Dolezel was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach of the Philadelphia Soul.[8]

On September 16, 2014, Dolezel re-signed with the Soul for two more seasons.[9]

In June 2016, Dolezel was announced as the first head coach of the China Arena Football League's Beijing Lions.[10] He was named an All-Pro North Division All-Star as a head coach.[11] On November 6, 2016, the Lions won the first China Bowl and finished the season undefeated.On August 25, 2016, Dolezel was named the 2016 Marcum-Moss Head Coach of the Year.[12] A day later, he won his first ArenaBowl championship as a coach when the Soul defeated the Arizona Rattlers, 56–42, in ArenaBowl XXIX in Glendale, Arizona.[13]

On August 26, 2017, the Soul beat the Tampa Bay Storm in ArenaBowl XXX by a score of 44–40.[14]

In 2019, the AFL folded and Dolezel was hired as the inaugural head coach of the Frisco Fighters in the Indoor Football League before the 2020 season.[15] However, the 2020 season was cancelled due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned to Frisco for the 2021 season, leading the team to a 10–3 record and made it to the league semifinal. Near the end 2021 season, Dolezel was signed to a multi-year extension,[16] but ultimately chose to leave the team to pursue other opportunities.[17]

Dolezel served as a quarterback coach consultant for Zachary Levi in preparation for the 2021 film, American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story. Levi starred as Kurt Warner, the Super Bowl champion and Hall of Fame NFL quarterback, in the film. Dolezel assisted in training Levi with mechanics, physical training and throwing. Dolezel played against Warner when the duo played in the Arena Football League.

Dolezel was named the 21st head coach in the history of the football program at Texas A&M University-Commerce, his alma mater, on December 7, 2022. He became just the third alum to take the reins of the Lion football program, and the first since 1930. In his first year, the Lions went 1–9.

Head coaching record

Arena football

Team Year Regular season Postseason
WonLostWin %FinishWon Lost Win % Result
SAS1042nd in Intense Lonestar East 1 1 .500
IFL total10411
DAL1172nd in AC Central 0 1 .000
PHI1262nd in AC Central 2 1
PHI993rd in AC Central 0 1 .000
PHI1531st in AC Central 1 1 .500
PHI1331st in AC 3 0 1.000
PHI13 1 1st in AFL 2 0 1.000
PHI7 5 3rd in AFL 0 2 .000
PHI7 5 3rd in AFL 2 1
AFL total8739106
BEI501st in CAFL 1 0 1.000
CAFL total5010
FRI1033rd in IFL 1 1 .500
IFL total10311
style="background:#FDE910;"-Career total 11246138

College

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clint Dolezel hired as A&M-Commerce Football coach.
  2. Web site: Dolezel Signs with Chicago Bears . March 22, 2000 . OurSports Central . www.oursportscentral.com . August 4, 2014.
  3. Web site: Rampage Acquire Three Veterans for Dolezel . September 2, 2003 . OurSports Central . www.oursportscentral.com . August 4, 2014.
  4. Web site: Record-setting Dallas QB Dolezel looking for 2nd AFL title . Stephen Hawkins . July 5, 2007 . My Plainview . www.myplainview.com . August 4, 2014.
  5. Web site: Clint Dolezel . arenafan.com . August 26, 2017.
  6. Web site: Dolezel ready to throw himself into new assignment . Adam Candee . September 24, 2004 . Las Vegas Sun . www.lasvegassun.com . August 4, 2014.
  7. Web site: af2: Florida Firecats name Dolezel as offensive coordinator . January 13, 2009 . Naples Daily News . www.naplesnews.com . August 4, 2014 . February 12, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120212232149/http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/13/af2-florida-firecats-name-dolezel-offensive-coordi/ . dead .
  8. Web site: Philadelphia Soul Promote Clint Dolezel to Head Coach . August 21, 2012 . Philadelphia Soul . www.philadelphiasoul.com . August 22, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120410114714/http://www.philadelphiasoul.com/home.cfm?go=news . April 10, 2012 .
  9. Web site: Dolezel re-ups to coach the Soul . September 17, 2014 . Ed Barkowitz . Interstate General Media, LLC . www.philly.com . September 17, 2014.
  10. Web site: Six-Shooters – China's First Coaches Set for Action . arenafan.com . June 3, 2016 . June 8, 2016.
  11. Web site: The CAFL has announced their 2016 All-Pro North division All-Stars . https://web.archive.org/web/20161107023207/http://caflfootball.com/the-cafl-has-released-their-2016-all-pro-north-division-all-stars/ . November 7, 2016 . caflfootball.com . November 4, 2016 . November 6, 2016 . dead .
  12. Web site: Dolezel Awarded Marcum Moss Coach of the Year . August 25, 2016 . OurSports Central . www.oursportscentral.com . August 26, 2016.
  13. Web site: Soul Defeat Rattlers, 56–42, to Claim AFL Crown . arenafootball.com . August 26, 2016 . August 28, 2016 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20160828165845/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/082616aaq.html . August 28, 2016 .
  14. Web site: Soul Snare Second Straight Foster Trophy in ArenaBowl XXX . arenafootball.com . August 27, 2017 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20170827235503/http://www.arenafootball.com/articles/soul-snare-second-straight-foster-trophy-in-arenabowl-xxx . August 27, 2017 .
  15. Web site: 'Frisco Fighters' named Indoor Football League team for the city . . December 11, 2019.
  16. Web site: FIGHTERS SIGN DOLEZEL TO MULTI-YEAR EXTENSION . IFL . August 21, 2021.
  17. Web site: FIGHTERS HAVE A NEW LEADER . Frisco Fighters . November 9, 2021.