Mike Wilpolt Explained

Position:Wide receiver/defensive back
Defensive Coordinator/Head Coach
Birth Date:January 4, 1968
Birth Place:Broomfield, Colorado, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:9
Weight Lbs:165
College:Mesa State (CO)
Undraftedyear:1992
Pastteams:
Pastcoaching:
Highlights:
Aflstatlabel1:Tackles
Aflstatvalue1:179
Aflstatlabel2:Interceptions
Aflstatvalue2:6
Aflstatlabel3:Receptions
Aflstatvalue3:33
Aflstatlabel4:Receiving yards
Aflstatvalue4:315
Aflstatlabel5:Receiving TDs
Aflstatvalue5:2
Coachregrecord:17-10
Coachplayoffrecord:2-1
Coachrecord:19-11
Afl:1729

Mike Wilpolt (born January 4, 1968) is a former American football wide receiver/defensive back for the Charlotte Rage (1992–1993), the Las Vegas Sting (1994–1995), and the Anaheim Piranhas (1996) in the Arena Football League (AFL). He also coached for 10 years in the AFL with the Indiana Firebirds, Los Angeles Avengers and Cleveland Gladiators.

Professional career

Key: Rec - receptions; Yards - Yards gained through receptions; TD - receiving touchdowns

YearTeamRecYardsTD
1992Charlotte Rage111191
1994Las Vegas Sting191701
1996Anaheim Piranhas3260
Career333152

Coaching career

Albany Firebirds

Wilpolt was the special teams coordinator for the Albany Firebirds, helping them win Back-to-Back Eastern Division Titles in 1999–2000. Wilpolt helped lead the Firebirds to the 1999 AFL World Championship, winning Arena Bowl XIII.

Indiana Firebirds

Wilpolt was the head coach in 2004 for the Indiana Firebirds. He took over the Firebirds after Steve DeBerg was fired after an 0–5 start to the season. Wilpolt led the Firebirds to eight wins in their last 11 games and were favored by many to win the 2005 championship, but the Firebirds folded before the 2005 season started due to an ownership dispute.

Los Angeles Avengers

Wilpolt was signed by the Los Angeles Avengers as the team's defensive coordinator in 2005. Over the course of the next 3 seasons, Wilpolt's defense has been in the top 5 twice and the top 10 all three years. He left the Avengers on October 10, 2007, when he was named the new head coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators who then relocated to Cleveland, Ohio.[1]

Cleveland Gladiators

In week 1, Wilpolt coached the Gladiators to a 61–49 victory against the New York Dragons in his first game as the team's head coach. After their stunning victory over New York, Wilpolt led his team to a 66–63 victory over the Utah Blaze. The following week, the Gladiators defeated the defending National Conference Champion Columbus Destroyers 66–63. After losing three consecutive games, the Gladiators defeated the Los Angeles Avengers 83–69. In just seven games, Wilpolt had doubled the number of wins the Gladiators had in 2007. Wilpolt finished the regular season with a 9–7 record, and a 2–1 record in the playoffs, helping them reach the AFL National Conference Championship Game.

Career win–loss record

Key: W: Wins; L: Losses; Div: Division W-L; Conf: Conference W-L; N/C: Non-conference W-L; Home: Home W-L; Road: Road W-L; PS: Points for; PA: Points against

YearTeamWLDivConfN/CHomeRoadPFPA
2004Indiana835-15-33-05-13-2604515
2008Cleveland974-42-21-12-11-2327359
Career17109-57-54-17-24-4931874

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Gladiators coach Wilpolt excited about opportunity . September 7, 2007 . Stephens Media LLC . ww.reviewjournal.com . June 12, 2014.