Wichita Wild
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| Founded | 2006 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 2014 |
| League | Independent (2007) UIF (2008) IFL (2009–2012) CPIFL (2013–2014) |
| Team history | Wichita Wild (2007–2014) |
| Based in | Park City, Kansas |
| Arena | Hartman Arena |
| Colors | Black, Orange, White |
| Owner(s) | Wink Hartman |
| Head coach | Paco Martinez |
| Championships | 2: (CPIFL: 2013, 2014) |
| Division titles | Central Division IFL (2009) |
| Playoff berths | 5: (IFL: 2009, 2010, 2012 CPIFL: 2013, 2014) |
| Dancers | Wild Things |
The Wichita Wild were a professional indoor football team based in Wichita, Kansas. They were members of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). The team was founded in 2006 as an independent indoor football franchise. In 2008, the team joined United Indoor Football (UIF). They joined the Indoor Football League (IFL) during the UIF and Intense Football League merger of 2009. In 2012, the team left the IFL to become charter members of the CPIFL. The Wild's home games were played at Hartman Arena in nearby Park City. When they lost their lease with the Hartman Arena, they folded..
The Wild joined the CPIFL after playing in the Indoor Football League for the past 4 seasons. The IFL was formed in 2008 through a merger between the Intense Football League and the United Indoor Football (UIF) league. Both leagues had been in business for four seasons before the merger. The Wild host their home games in Park City, Kansas at the Hartman Arena.
The owner of the team is Wink Hartman. Hartman was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, and graduated from Wichita State University with a business degree and double major in marketing and economics. Wink presently owns and oversees a variety of companies including oil service and drilling, commercial construction, Chester’s Chophouse and Wine Bar and Hartman Arena. With the recent acquisition of additional oil companies, Hartman Oil became the largest oil producer in the state of Kansas. He was named 2008 “Businessman of the Year” by the Wichita Business Journal.
Ken Matous was hired as Head Coach of the team on July 28, 2008. Matous came to the Wild from the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League (AFL) where he served as Offensive Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator, and directed player personnel for three seasons. After an 0-5 start to the 2011 season, Matous was fired. Wild assistant coach, Morris Lolar, was then designated the Interim Head Coach for the last nine games of the Wild’s 2011 season where he inherited an 0-5 team, but lead them to a 6-3 finish to earn the full-time position. In 2012, Lolar led a young Wild team all the way to the IFL conference championship game, but they ultimately fell to the Tri-Cities Fever 51-30 to end their season. Lolar then returned for the 2013 season with a more experienced team heading into their inaugural season with the newly formed Champions Professional Indoor Football League, where they finished with a 12-2 record, a championship win against the Salina Bombers, and a 7-0 record at home to close out the season. Lolar’s leadership in the 2013 season earned the team several league awards and an honorable mention as CPIFL Coach of the Year.
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