Kentucky Drillers

Kentucky Drillers

Founded	2010
Folded	2013
League	United Indoor Football League (2011-2012) Continental Indoor Football League (2013)
Team history	Eastern Kentucky Drillers (2011-2012) Kentucky Drillers (2013)
Based in	Pikeville, Kentucky
Arena	Eastern Kentucky Expo Center
Colors	Black and Yellow
Owner(s)	Rick Kranz
President	Rick Kranz
Head coach	Rick Kranz
Championships	0
Dancers	Drillbits
Mascot	Digger
Website	kentuckydrillers.com

The Kentucky Drillers were a professional indoor football team based in Pikeville, Kentucky. The franchise started as the Eastern Kentucky Drillers and joined the Continental Indoor Football League in 2013 after playing their first two seasons as a charter member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League for its inaugural 2011 season. The owner of the Drillers was Rick Kranz. The Drillers played their home games at the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville, Kentucky.

Franchise history

2011

On November 26, 2010, the UIFL announced that the team in Pikeville, Kentucky would be named the Eastern Kentucky Drillers.^[1] The Drillers lost their first game in franchise history, a 44-49 defeat to the hands of the Saginaw Sting.^[2] Even in the defeat, two Drillers (Aric Evans and David Jones), won the first ever Offensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week Awards in the history of the Ultimate Indoor Football League.^[3] The following week, the Drillers played their first ever home game at Eastern Kentucky Expo Center, and in front of 3,500 fans, the Drillers won 37-26 over the Huntington Hammer.^[4]

2012

The Drillers made few changes to their team going into 2012, but the hiring of Defensive Coordinator, Jimmy Brookins was going to be vital to another Ultimate Bowl run, as he looked to keep the Drillers atop the UIFL rankings for defense.^[5]

2013

On July 19, 2012, it was announced that the Drillers would leave the UIFL and join the Continental Indoor Football League,^[6] as well as changed their name to the Kentucky Drillers^[7]

Players of note

Current roster

Kentucky Drillers roster
Quarterbacks  5 Kameron Bryant Running Backs 34 Derek Dickerson Wide Receivers 18 Eric Foxworth  1 Kelvin Irving  6 Isiah Thoams  9 Perry Wright		Offensive Linemen 92 Autuan Baker 60 Jesse Carmon 70 Kyle MacCarthy 79 Josh Puckett Defensive Linemen 44 Rodrick Davis 98 Jerimah Fennel 69 Brandon Lee		Linebackers 55 Jarell Dennis  2 Phillip Sumlin Defensive Backs  8 Ron Burgess  3 Chris Dickerson 23 James Houston  4 Jamell Mingo 21 Troy Smith Kickers 14 Caleb Petry		Injured Reserve Currently vacant Exempt List Currently vacant Practice Squad Currently vacant Rookies in italics Roster updated April 20, 2013 21 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS → More rosters

Awards and honors

The following is a list of all (Eastern) Kentucky Drillers players who have won Individual Awards and Honors.

Season	Player	Position	Award
2011	Aric Evans	Wide Receivers	1st Team All-UIFL
2011	Rashaud Mungro	Offensive Lineman	1st Team All-UIFL
2011	David Jones	Defensive Back	1st Team All-UIFL
2011	Jason Connor	Defensive Back	2nd Team All-UIFL
2011	Butch Abshire	Defensive Back	2nd Team All-UIFL
2011	Daniel Eidson	Kicker	2nd Team All-UIFL
2012	Maurice Douse	Running Back	1st Team All-UIFL South
2012	Aric Evans	Wide Receiver	1st Team All-UIFL South
2012	Joe Parker	Offensive Lineman	1st Team All-UIFL South
2012	George Jackson	Defensive Back	1st Team All-UIFL South
2012	Allan Holland	Quarterback	UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012	Lynell Suggs	Wide Receiver	UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012	Phil Blaising	Center	UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012	Ellery Moore	Defensive Lineman	UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012	Shawn Lewis	Defensive Lineman	UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012	Andre Hatchett	Linebacker	UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012	Miquel Carodine	Defensive Back	UIFL South Honorable Mention
2012	Daniel Eidson	Kicker	UIFL South Honorable Mention

Notable coaches

Head coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2013 Continental Indoor Football League season.

Name	Term	Regular Season				Playoffs		Awards
		W	L	T	Win%	W	L
Lance Brown	2011	8	6	0	.571	1	1
Rick Kranz	2012–2013	8	12	0	.400	0	0

Coaching staff

Kentucky Drillers staff
	Front office Owner/President/Director of Football Operations - Rick Kranz Community relations - Charles Stephens Executive assistant - Angela McGinnis Marketing executive - Stephanie McKinney Director of Player Personnel - Trey Randall Head Coach Head Coach – Rick Kranz Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Quarterbacks/running backs/wide receivers - Clyde Harrison Offensive line – Stan Wrubluski			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Jimmy Brookins Defensive line - Stan Wrubluski Linebackers – Secondary – Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Clyde Harrison

Statistics and records

Season-by-season results

Note: The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play.

League Champions

Conference Champions

Division Champions

Wild Card Berth

League Leader

Season	Team	League	Conference	Division	Regular season				Postseason Results
					Finish	Wins	Losses	Ties
Eastern Kentucky Drillers
2011	2011	UIFL			3rd	8	6	0	Won UIFL semifinals (Hammer) 20-4 Lost Ultimate Bowl I (Sting) 69-86
2012	2012	UIFL	South		2nd	6	4	0
Kentucky Drillers
2013	2013	CIFL			7th	2	8	0
Totals						16	18	0	All-time regular season record (2011–2013)
						1	1	-	All-time postseason record (2011–2013)
						17	19	0	All-time regular season and postseason record (2011–2013)

* Season currently in progress

References

1. "Pikeville, KY Team Name Announced: Eastern Kentucky Drillers". www.theuifl.com. UIFL. November 26, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
2. "Saginaw Sting capture season opener". Midland Daily News. February 19, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
3. "Drillers duo highlight weekly honors". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 26, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
4. "Drillers Open with Win". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 28, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
5. "Brookins Named EKY Defensive Coordinator". www.oursportscental.com. OurSports Central. September 23, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
6. "Drillers returning for 2013 season". www.floydcountytimes.com. Floyd County Times. January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
7. "Drillers making switch to Continental Indoor Football League". www.wkyt.com. WYMT. July 19, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.

External links

• Kentucky Drillers official site
• UIFL press release announcing the team