He saw a future for indoor professional football in Alaska, and a home for the sport in the Mat-Su Valley.
On Monday, as the longtime football coach stood in front of a crowded room that included colleagues, fans and local dignitaries, Deemer watched as his dream quickly turned to reality.
 ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman Chris Kokalis, a Wisconsin businessman, was introduced as a co-owner of the Arctic Predators, a Wasilla-based professional indoor football franchise that will make its Indoor Football League debut in March of 2010. |
“We’re just excited to get active in the community and put a winning program together in the Valley,” Arctic Predators president and co-owner Chris Kokalis said after the press conference.
Kokalis and Ken Moninski, a pair of Wisconsin businessmen, were introduced as the owners of the 24th IFL franchise. Deemer, a local prep and youth football mentor and former head coach of the IFL’s Alaska Wild, was handed the reigns as the Predators’ first head coach.
“From the moment he and I first sat down and talked about his vision, I knew immediately he was going to be a great asset, a great fit for this organization,” Kokalis said before officially calling Deemer to the podium.
Deemer spent more than a year working to build a foundation for the franchise. He petitioned the league, which is already home of the Alaska Wild and Fairbanks Grizzlies, for approval to expand to Wasilla. Deemer also introduced the city of Wasilla to the idea of making the Menard Sports Center the home of the Predators.
The final step involved Kokalis and Moninski, who have ties to the league as co-owners of the LaCrosse Spartans, another IFL expansion team.
“It’s all about partnerships, and that’s what it took to bring professional football to the Mat-Su Valley,” Deemer told the crowd during the press conference. “Ken and Chris, those guys are top-notch guys to step up and take care of business.”
Deemer said Kokalis and Moninski stepped in to solidify the finances of the franchise. The co-owners will be responsible for the business side of the venture, Deemer said. Deemer and veteran indoor football coach Mike Davis, who was recently appointed as the team’s director of football operations, will be tasked with putting together the team that will make its debut in March of 2010.
IFL officials brought Deemer, Kokalis and Moninski together.
“The league connected us. Hans has been working really hard to try to put this thing together,” Kokalis said. “We spoke with (Hans) about what he had already done, and we were able to put something together.”
Kokalis said the union was not only crucial to give the new Predators franchise a foundation, but vital to the survival of the already existing Alaska organizations.
“This really has a huge impact on the two Alaska teams that are already in place,” Kokalis said. “The Alaska teams have the highest travel budgets in the league, and with a third team there, it’s going to save them some money.”
The Predators will play its 14-game inaugural season in the spring. The Predators will host seven home games in the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Arena, and play seven times on the road.
The team will play the Alaska Wild and Fairbanks Grizzlies twice each. The Colorado Ice, Billings Outlaws and LaCrosse Spartans are also on the schedule.
The 24-team IFL was founded in 2008 with the merger of the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football League. In addition to the three teams from Alaska, the league also includes squads from Texas, Montana, Illinois, Colorado, Wisconsin, Virginia, Nebraska, New York, Iowa, Michigan, Kansas and Maryland.
The Arctic Predators have also launched their team Web site, www.arcticpredators.com, and season tickets are now available for sale.
Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.
Comments
26 comment(s)Peter wrote on Nov 27, 2009 7:30 PM:
Tori wrote on Nov 24, 2009 1:11 PM:
Same Person Responding wrote on Nov 23, 2009 10:48 AM:
valley parent wrote on Nov 22, 2009 1:16 PM:
Its pro not semi pro. They scored two touchdowns. But hey it was just my sons team. I hope your moms proud you can cut down a bunch of little kids.
Good Luck "
onetinsoilder wrote on Nov 22, 2009 1:11 PM:
valley 4 life wrote on Nov 22, 2009 1:09 PM:
dancers wrote on Nov 22, 2009 1:03 PM:
valley trash wrote on Nov 22, 2009 12:59 PM:
Truth be told wrote on Nov 18, 2009 12:05 AM:
football fan wrote on Nov 17, 2009 11:14 PM:
RickyBertz wrote on Nov 17, 2009 4:14 PM:
jp wrote on Nov 17, 2009 4:10 PM:
have people lost all sensability? "
Sorry Tara wrote on Nov 17, 2009 3:39 PM:
I wish you luck but know this, I will be watching like everyone else as bankrupcy and mishandling are soon to follow another sport. "
The Dancers wrote on Nov 17, 2009 3:22 PM:
aklifer wrote on Nov 17, 2009 3:17 PM:
Teri Phillips wrote on Nov 17, 2009 3:00 PM:
Hans and Michelle have taken on the challenge of making this a reality, even when others said it couldn't be done. They've invested their time, money and energy making this a reality and I admire and applaud both of them for their efforts. "
Best of luck wrote on Nov 17, 2009 2:28 PM:
gbd wrote on Nov 17, 2009 1:52 PM:
football fans wrote on Nov 17, 2009 1:50 PM:
website wrote on Nov 17, 2009 1:47 PM:
TARA wrote on Nov 17, 2009 12:36 PM:
WE NEED THIS FOR THE ECONMY AS WELL EVERYONE LOVES FOOTBALL....LET SUPPORT THE TEAM.........COME BUY YOUR SEASON TICKETS TODAY.... "
To Jeremiah Bartz wrote on Nov 17, 2009 11:56 AM:
Supporter wrote on Nov 17, 2009 10:52 AM:
The Valley is a growing community and lets give our youth something to do like go to a game rather than go to parties!!
Deemer and his family work hard for this team!!! "
thanks wrote on Nov 17, 2009 10:28 AM:
Hilarious wrote on Nov 17, 2009 8:41 AM:
What a waste of utilities to play IFl in Alaska. Anchorage is a joke! Fairbanks is a joke! and now the valley is a joke! Sounds like pork projects to me. "
Good Luck wrote on Nov 16, 2009 10:19 PM: