Editor’s notes: This week we sat down with Philadelphia Soul’s Head Coach Mike Hohensee. Hohensee enters his 17th season as a Head Coach and 24th season in the AFL. Hohensee is one of only four men to be involved in the AFL since its inception in 1987. As a Head Coach, Hohensee has taken his teams to the playoffs 13 times and won seven division titles.

Editor: Your history and accomplishments in the AFL are incredible. One that stands out is you throwing the first touchdown pass in AFL history with Pittsburgh Gladiators in 1987. How did it feel then and how do you feel about it now?

Mike Hohensee: At the time it was just another play. I really didn’t appreciate the magnitude of that until years later. Even when I did it, I didn’t realize that I was the first one. Obviously there were other games going on. I guess if anything it was a matter of scheduling that helped me achieve such a feat. It’s pretty cool. It’s really something I don’t think about very much until somebody asks me about it.

ED: With Pittsburgh being Philadelphia’s in-state rival now and the first game of the season, will it be a special game for you?

MH: They are all special actually for me. I love Arena Football. I’ve been around it longer than most. I have a sense of ownership, not only in the position that I have with the Philadelphia Soul but in Arena Football. It means a great deal to me. I have always tried to represent not only the team I have worked for but the League itself in a professional manner. I’m excited about the game and I’m sure it will be well received out there. I’m glad about Lynn Swann, who was actually one of my childhood idols growing up. I always thought he conducted himself in a very professional manner. I’m sure he will ask that of his team now with the Arena Football and I’m sure they will have a quality organization and a quality football team up there. I look forward to the challenge.

ED: Another team you have a long history with is the Chicago Rush, where you coached for eight years and won an ArenaBowl. What will it be like coaching the Philadelphia Soul against Chicago?

MH: I have mixed feelings about it. The fans there over the years have been tremendous to me, my family and our football team. We had some down times while we were out there. Even though we won a lot of games and made it to the playoffs every year we were out there, we had some stints where we didn’t play great football or we had some key injuries that didn’t allow us to play at the level people were use to us playing. That never phased the fans. They always came out to support us the same no matter what was happening with the football team. They made it probably my most enjoyable part of my coaching career-coaching in Chicago. So as far as that goes, I’m looking forward to that.

ED: What has been the biggest challenge restarting the Philadelphia Soul?

MH: I think one of the biggest challenges is going to be is the fact that we really are a new football team. We come with a label of the Philadelphia Soul, 2008 ArenaBowl Champions. We really are going to be a brand new football team. We are obviously going to have brand new coaches than in 2008 and a whole new group of football players that we are putting together. Hopefully can represent the Soul the
way they want us to. I know when I had my press conference here in Philadelphia and Ron Jaworski stood up to introduce me, he talked about winning a championship. Not just winning a championship, but multiple championships. They didn’t bring me here to win a division, but they want to win a title. That’s what I’m going to do my best to do.

ED: What is it like working alongside former quarterback and distinguished football icon, Ron Jaworski?

MH: This is a great opportunity for me. This ownership group, Ron Jaworski included, is nothing but spectacular. They have done everything they said they would do as far as support and helping with recruitment of players, picking up the phone and giving a call to just talk football. Being supportive and understanding are the things we are going for in the new Arena Football format that makes it difficult on everyone, but everyone is in the same boat. I think one of the toughest things for them is understanding that this isn’t Arena Football 2008. This is Arena Football 2010 and things are done a different way. It’s a little more challenging for everybody involved-owners, coaches and players, and as long as we try to point the ship in the right direction and understand what’s ahead of us, we are going to have success. We’ve already had two or three sponsorship parties and gatherings to get the old sponsors back from 2008 and some new ones as well. They are just doing everything the right way. They treat the sponsors with respect. They treat their own employees with a great deal of respect and honesty. It’s refreshing after some of the things we’ve had to go through over the past couple of years.

ED: What was it like having the current Commissioner working on your staff for your first Head Coaching job?

MH: [Laughter] Jerry Kurz and I were at the Washington Commandos, where we had some issues back in 1990. He came on and we basically ran the organization on a shoestring and had some fun with it. I think I was 28 years old at the time and said I would love to have the job. I was probably in no way ready to be a Head Coach at that time, but we did the best we could. We did it honestly, worked long hours and brought in the right people. That’s what I love about the Philadelphia Soul. We have good people you can trust and again in professional sports that’s not always the case. It’s going to make all of our jobs easier and a lot more gratifying to know that everyone has your back.

ED: Tell me about your time coaching for the AFL’s International teams in Paris and Spain?

MH: Those were great experiences. Obviously going to different parts of the world and bringing in quality game like Arena Football out there. Winning wasn’t really at the forefront. It was putting on a good show and putting our sport on display for people who had no idea what it was about. They just wanted something exciting, and I think that’s what we did. We went out there and conducted ourselves in a professional manner in a way that most people would expect from a professional football team and organization. We had a blast. Some of those trips out there are the most memorable part of my career in Arena Football.

ED: Prior to joining the AFL, you were a first round draft pick for the United States Football League and joined the Washington Federals. What was that like?

MH: That seems like a lifetime ago right now, but that was my first experience with professional football. It wasn’t always great. We didn’t have a winning record but we had some pretty good players on our team. We just didn’t come together as quickly as some of the other teams. [Laughter] It was a learning experience and sometimes I didn’t understand some of the things that were going on. I remember being in the locker room at halftime of my first game and there were players smoking [laughter]. I’m trying to look through the smoke to hear what the coach was saying and writing on the chalkboard. I just couldn’t believe what was going on, so obviously times have changed. I have actually seen some old clips of Arena Football where some coaches were smoking on the sidelines in the arena. It has changed dramatically over the years, but the USFL was awesome. There were some legendary players in that league and NFL Hall of Famers so the football was great. It was a great first time experience for me to go out there and have a chance to play in front of so many people and such a big stage.

ED: You also had a stint in the NFL.

MH: Yes, I was a Spare Bear in 1987. It was a great experience. Coach [Mike] Ditka was the coach. Sean Payton, the Head Coach of the New Orleans Saints, was my roommate. Mike Stoops, the coach of Arizona, was a teammate of ours not only with the Spare Bears but with the Pittsburgh Gladiators. Over the years in all of these different situations, I have been fortunate enough to cross paths with some pretty dynamic individuals. I really believe that all of us are shaped by a lot of the people that we cross paths with in life. If you’re paying attention, they can help you become that person you want to be and achieve some of the things in life you want to.

ED: Since your move to Philadelphia, are you eating those Philly Steak Sandwiches?

MH: I’ve tried not to [laughter] but I did have one at Chickie & Pete’s, one of our owner’s restaurants, and it was fantastic. So, I’ll have one every now and then but I want to try to stay between 250-300 pounds. I may have one on the side every now and then [laughter].

ED: Thanks for sitting down with us. Good luck this season!