MESA, Ariz.- The Arizona Rattlers have solidified their coaching staff for the 2012 Arena Football season with the return of GM/Head Coach Kevin Guy, Assistant Head Coach Kani Kauahi, Defensive Coordinator Omarr Smith and the addition of Defensive Line Coach Abdul Noah.
GM/Head Coach Kevin Guy says, "One thing you need to have is continuity in the organization. Although players change from year to year, having a very experienced group of coaches that return every year is a huge advantage. We had a great season last year and we are looking forward to another great season this year."
Assistant Head Coach Kani Kauahi enters his fifth year and fourth season coaching in Arena Football, all of which have been with the Arizona Rattlers.
Kauahi played 11 years in the National Football League at center with the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Phoenix Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs. Collegiately, Kauahi played on the offensive lines for Arizona State University and the University of Hawaii.
Defensive Coordinator Omarr Smith enters his fourth season coaching in Arena Football, and his third with the Arizona Rattlers. This will be his 11th season of overall Arena Football experience.
Smith played mostly defensive back for eight seasons in the AFL, seven of them with the San Jose SaberCats. He won four championships in his eight years, three of them consecutively (2002-04). Smith was named the Defensive MVP of ArenaBowl XXI, his fourth championship. He played four years at DB at San Jose State University, where his 13 career interceptions rank second highest in school history.
The AZ Rattlers round out their coaching staff with the addition of Abdul Noah. Noah enters his first coaching season in the Arena League, but brings an extensive football background and experience to the coaching staff and the Rattlers Organization.
Having spent time with the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints, he also played four years in the Arena Football League with the Kansas City Brigade, Georgia Force, and New Orleans Voodoo. In his two years with the Voodoo, he helped bolster both their offensive and defensive lines as well as led them to a southern division title coupled with a playoffs appearance in just the Voodoo's first year of existence.
