July 24, 2010

By Kenny Bybee

DALLAS, TX -- Former Dallas Desperados quarterback and AFL legend Clint Dolezel was named head coach of the Dallas Vigilantes for the 2011 season and beyond during a halftime ceremony at the Vigilantes-Utah Blaze game Saturday evening at the American Airlines Center.

Dolezel, whose No. 13 was retired and hung in the rafters on Saturday, will replace interim head coach James Fuller at the end of the regular season.

“We are very excited to welcome Clint aboard,” Dallas Vigilantes general manager Gene Nudo said. “He brings a wealth of experience and is a person our team can look up to. His discipline and mindset will help us as we go forward.”

An East Texas State graduate, Dolezel played three seasons with the Desperados and was the first quarterback in AFL history to throw 900 career touchdowns and lead his team to a 15-win season, which he accomplished in 2007 with Dallas. In 13 seasons, Dolezel completed 3,749-of-5,698 career passes for 44,564 yards, 931 touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 117.75.

Dolezel retired from the AFL as the league's all-time passing yards and passing touchdowns leader and currently ranks second all-time in career passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass attempts and pass completions.

Dolezel retired following the 2008 AFL season, when the league and the Dallas Desperados suspended play indefinitely. He then went the coaching route by taking his first career head coaching position with the Indoor Football League’s San Angelo Stampede Express.

The Vigilantes have struggled in 2010 , owning a 2-13 record heading into the final week of the regular season. Rich Ingold began the season as head coach but was dismissed after starting the season 1-5. Fuller, who guided Dallas to a huge upset victory over the first place Chicago Rush last week, is 1-8 as head coach.

The Vigilantes return to action for their final game of the season on Saturday night when they travel to Bossier City, La., to face the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings.