Memphis Maniax name Kippy Brown Head Coach

Memphis, Tenn., September 18, 2000 - Steve Ehrhart, General Manager of the Memphis Maniax, named Kippy Brown Head Coach of the Memphis XFL team on Monday, Sept. 18, 2000. A veteran of 21 coaching seasons, nine in the NFL and 12 in college, Brown is a graduate of the University of Memphis where he was quarterback for the Tigers from 1975-77.

“We are proud to announce Kippy Brown as the Head Coach of the Maniax,” said Ehrhart. “His experience as an NFL offensive coordinator and as the assistant head coach at the University of Tennessee as well as his ties to the city of Memphis make him a perfect fit as we prepare to take the field in February.”

Brown has experience with four different NFL teams (New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers). He served as offensive coordinator under Miami Dolphins’ Head Coach Jimmy Johnson in 1998 and 1999 where he called the offensive plays for the Dolphins teams that made the NFL playoffs in both those years.

“I appreciate very much the opportunity to become the first head coach of the Memphis Maniax,” said Kippy Brown. “I want to thank Steve Ehrhart and Steve Ortmayer for their confidence and support.”

“It is my absolute commitment to put together an exciting, quality and winning football team that will make Memphis and the Mid-South proud,” added Brown. “It is unbelievable to see my career come full-circle – from when I was a player in Memphis 28-years ago, to now having the honor of being the head coach of the Memphis team in this exciting new league with such a great future.”

The Memphis Maniax have territorial rights to players from both the University of Memphis and University of Tennessee. Brown’s playing and coaching experience at those two schools will be an added perspective as he and Player Personnel Director Steve Ortmayer put together the team for the opening game on Feb. 3, 2001.

Commenting on the coaching search, Ehrhart said, “As Steve Ortmayer and I talked to coaches all around the country over the last several months, Kippy’s name kept coming up time after time. His qualifications were so good that we made the decision that we wanted Kippy as our head coach. Thus we worked out a transition arrangement with the Green Bay Packers. Kippy will complete his obligations to the Packers this season, but at the same time he will be in touch with Steve Ortmayer on a regular basis this fall and he will then join us full-time following the Packers’ season.”

“During the fall of 1982 the United States Football League (USFL) waited for two coaches to finish their obligations to their respective teams prior to joining the USFL for the spring season of 1983,” Ehrhart continued. “Their names were Steve Spurrier and Jim Mora. That plan certainly worked well for those two coaches who have gone on to great careers.”

“I would like to publicly thank Ron Wolf and the Green Bay Packers organization as well as Basil DeVito, Mike Keller and the folks at our XFL league office who all worked together to create a situation that is a win-win for all the parties involved,” concluded Ehrhart.

The Memphis Maniax will play 10 games during the XFL regular season beginning on Feb. 3, 2001. Home games will be played in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium and ticket reservations may be obtained by logging on to www.xfl.com.