Founded | 2009 |
---|---|
Folded | 2013 |
League |
CIFL (2010–2011) UIFL (2012) CIFL (2013 did not play) |
Team history | Cincinnati Commandos (2010–2012) |
Based in | Cincinnati, Ohio |
Arena | Cincinnati Gardens |
Colors | Army green, Kelly green, Red, Light gray |
Owner(s) | Dennis Whitman Paul Napier |
Head coach | J. C. Baker |
General manager | Jason Buckley |
Championships | 3 CIFL (2010 and 2011) UIFL (2012) |
Conference titles | 1 (2012) |
Division titles | 1 UIFL North (2012) |
Playoff berths | 3 (2010, 2011 and 2012) |
Dancers | Commando Cuties |
The Cincinnati Commandos were a professional indoor football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team suspended operations for the 2013 season, with hope of returning in 2014. They began play in 2010 as an expansion team in the Continental Indoor Football League before moving to the United Indoor Football League in 2012. The Commandos then left the UIFL after winning Ultimate Bowl II and re-joined the CIFL, but never took the field after its announcement. The Commandos were the fifth arena or indoor football in Cincinnati, after the Cincinnati Rockers (Arena Football League 1992–93), Cincinnati Swarm (af2 2003), Cincinnati Marshals (National Indoor Football League 2004–2006), and Cincinnati Jungle Kats (af2 2007). The owners of the Commandos are Dennis Whitman and Paul Napier. The Commandos played their home games at Cincinnati Gardens.
The Commandos posted a 9-1 regular season mark in the 2010 season, winning their first nine games before losing the final one at Wisconsin. After a three-week break, Cincinnati defeated Miami Valley, 48-24, in the CIFL Semifinals, and then defeated the Wisconsin Wolfpack, 54-40 in the 2010 CIFL Championship Game, on June 26, to claim Cincinnati's first ever professional football championship.
Head Coach Billy Back returned for the 2011 season, Brian Wells, former head coach of the Miami Valley Silverbacks, was hired as Assistant Head Coach / Special Teams Coordinator / Offensive Line Coach. For 2011 the Commandos have announced the signing of: Tyler Sheehan (QB), Derrick Crawford (Defensive Line), Maurice Lee (WR), Corey Clarke (WR), Brandon Harrison (WR), and Peter Warrick (WR) Cincinnati opened up defense of its 2010 CIFL Championship with a convincing 53-7 victory over Chicago on March 5. Cincinnati unveiled its championship banner at The Gardens that same night and gave its fans a memorable evening. Cincinnati dominated the game from start to finish jumping out to 21-0 lead and 27-7 halftime lead. Cincinnati scored just once in the third quarter before adding three more scores in the final stanza. Cincinnati was led by two quarterbacks. Starting quarterback Tyler Sheehan was 11 of 20 for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow quarterback and 2010 CIFL MVP Ben Mauk was nine of 15 for 102 yards and four touchdowns. The passing was spread around to seven receivers. The top receiver was Keynes Mincy with six receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Other receivers include Brandon Boehm wo had three catches for 50 yards; George Murray had four receptions for 44 yards; and Greg Moore had two catches for 35 yards. The leading rusher was Greg Moore with 24 yards on nine carries. On March 19, quarterback Tyler Sheehan broke a Commandos record, by throwing 8 touchdown passes against the Indianapolis Enforcers. The previous record had been 7, which Mauk achieved twice in the 2010 season. On May 29, 2011, the Commandos completed their first ever undefeated regular season, with a 50-20 win over the Marion Blue Racers, in what was a battle for first place and home field advantage throughout the CIFL Playoffs. Once again, the season ended with the Commandos as CIFL Champions, defeating the Blue Racers 44-29.