SWX Right Now-Sports News for Washington and IdahoShock introduce Keefe as new head coach

Shock introduce Keefe as new head coach

Keefe promises to take Shock to next level of arena football

SPOKANE, Wash. - After a shocking announcement Tuesday morning, Spokane's championship arena football team followed it up by holding a news conference to introduce their new head coach for the 2010 season, Rob Keefe.

Keefe, who played for the Spokane Shock as a defensive back in 2006 and 2007 took the podium at the Shock practice facility after a brief introduction by team owner, Brady Nelson.  Keefe, who was an assistant coach with Spokane last season, takes over for Adam Shackleford, whose contract was surprisingly not renewed when it expired September 15.

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Rob Keefe, who served as an assistant last season, was named head coach of the Spokane Shock (Photo: SWX)

After thanking the Shock organization for giving him the opportunity to lead a new team, Keefe addressed reporters, first speaking highly of Spokane, and then saying he plans on taking the Shock to a new level.

"The type of athlete that will be part of Spokane, Washington, with this new coaching staff, with this new organization, going into this new league, is going to be unlike anything you've ever seen."

Keefe said his offensive coordinator would be Matt Sauk, who helped Spokane in a limited role last season by teaching receivers and quarterbacks.  He previously served a stint with Spokane as Assistant Head Coach under Shackleford before signing a contract with the Arizona Rattlers of the AFL to play quarterback there.  Before Spokane, he had a career season with the Philadelphia Soul in 2006, completing 65 percent of his passes for 20 touchdowns and three interceptions.

For Keefe, though, who takes his first head coaching job in arena football, he spoke repeatedly about taking Spokane to the next level of arena football. He mentioned the great years the Shock had in the past, but didn't address the perhaps awkward proposition of replacing a head coach that took his team to the af2 ArenaCup in August of this year - and won.

"That was a great four-year run and I was proud to be a part of it for three of those four years.  But in this new league that will be announced very, very shortly we are very excited to begin what is - for not only the 2010 season, but in the future - a new level of arena football," said Keefe. "And I can't stress that enough: the highest level of arena football."