An Indoor Football League team will continue to play at the ShoWare Center in Kent but with a new name, owners and coach.
The new owners plan to officially announce the changes at a press conference at 3 p.m. Friday at the ShoWare Center.
The Kent Predators are in the middle of their second season in Kent, but now have their third owner and third coach in four months.
“Effective immediately, the team will be changing its name from the Kent Predators to the Seattle Timberwolves,” according to media release Tuesday from Mike Barry, the team’s new general manager.
Sean Ponder, former coach of the Fairbanks Grizzlies of the Indoor Football League, is the new head coach and offensive coordinator. Michael Custer is the new assistant coach as well as the defensive and special teams coordinator.
The changes are an effort to improve the team and raise public awareness of the sport, according to Barry.
Previous owner Jeff Scott is out of the picture. Scott bought the team in January from Ken Moninski, who owned the club during its first season last year.
The Predators are 1-5 so far this season and in last place in the Pacific Division. The team has struggled to draw fans to home games.
Keith Evans, who was hired in January to coach the team, no longer is the coach. He had replaced Heron O’Neal last fall to coach the Predators in 2011. But O’Neal resigned in December after then-team president Michael Tuckman did not pay him. William McCarthy coached the Predators last season but was not rehired.
According to Barry, the Seattle Timberwolves will play out the remainder of its 2011 season at the ShoWare Center.
Tom Dowling is the new president and chief executive officer of the Timberwolves. Dowling and Barry will hold a press conference on Friday to introduce the new coaches and address the changes.
The Timberwolves play the Wenatchee Valley Venom at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, April 16 at the ShoWare Center. They have played three home games and have four home games remaining, including the regular season finale on June 12.
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