THE FUTURE OF FOOTBALL IS FLAG: THE AMERICAN FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE ANNOUNCES HEAD COACHES FOR INAUGURAL SEASON Boston, Dallas, Las Vegas and Nashville have been announced as inaugural cities; The league will host open tryouts for players in each market this summer
New York
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July 12, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
The American Flag Football League (AFFL), today announced the hiring of the head coaches of the four teams that will participate in the kickoff of the professional AFFL league scheduled to launch in 2024.
The head coaches for the inaugural teams are both legends and ambassadors of flag football: Leading the team in Dallas is Patrick Alley; in Nashville, Chris Hughes; in Boston, Matt Bailey; and in Las Vegas, Jerry Urias.
“This roster of coaches is indicative of the AFFL’s mission of expanding the game of flag football and providing the fans with an accessible, fun and fast-paced product.” said Brian Michael Cooper, President and Chief Operating Officer of the AFFL. “Our new coaches have been the sport’s greatest supporters and will champion our must-watch sport on the field and in their respective communities.”
As the popularity of flag football continues to grow globally - the sport is played by 20 million people in more than 100 countries[1] - the new AFFL pro league will provide opportunities for highly skilled athletes from all backgrounds to showcase their talent to help take the sport to the next level.
More information on the head coaches of the inaugural 2024 AFFL can be found below.
Dallas – Patrick Alley
A former Texas high school football state champion and national flag football champion, Patrick Alley has spent 25 years building successful flag football teams. He is currently assistant coach of the U.S. National Flag Football Team, winning a gold medal for Team USA at the World Games in 2022. “As both a fan of and longtime participant in flag football, I’m looking forward to making this season all about the fans and demonstrating how the professional game can take the sport to the next level.”
Nashville – Chris Hughes
Chris Hughes lives by the philosophy that “flag is life.” After decades as a successful player and coach in flag football, he has become one of the sport’s most recognizable brand ambassadors. His teams are perennial participants in the highest rounds of AFFL tournaments, and he expects to build the Nashville team into a championship team on the field and in the community. “My coaching philosophy is this: Be Smarter. Work Harder. Compete! Winning is what motivates me, and I can’t wait to help build this league into something special.”
Boston – Matt Bailey
Matt Bailey is a great example of the opportunity the AFFL offers to athletes. In addition to his years of success as a flag football player and coach, he was the first player to register for the AFFL’s first tournament, where he played on the Athletes, winning the NY Regional in 2018 and 2019. “Finding a way to connect with many different personalities is one of my favorite challenges of coaching. I’m looking forward to building a championship team that develops meaningful relationships in the community and sets a great example for younger athletes in Boston.”
Las Vegas – Jerry Urias
Jerry Urias has been a participant in the AFFL from day one. His family has been a driving force behind his football career, from making it to San Francisco 49ers training camp to starting the successful flag football team the Dream Team with his brothers. He will leverage his considerable experience as a coach, player and fan to take the new Vegas team to the next level. “The incredible and continued growth of flag football is what drives me as a coach. My advice for athletes hoping to make this league is to leave it all on the field with the intention of being part of a winning team on and off the field.”
Open tryouts for the AFFL pro league will be held in Dallas on July 21-22, Nashville on August 5-6, Boston on August 19-20 and in Las Vegas on September 2-3.
For more information on the AFFL, please visit: https://www.affl.com/.
About The American Flag Football League
The AFFL was founded in 2016 to grow the game of flag football, and has established men’s and women’s amateur and youth leagues across the United States under the mission of football for all. For more information, visit affl.com and follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
[1] https://theathletic.com/3975023/2022/12/22/nfl-flag-football-pro-bowl/
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