Cincinnati Commandos
Introduction  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.
Franchise history ===Play begins: 2010===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.===2011===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.===2012===After an initial report that stated the Commandos would join the Stadius Football Association, on July 11, 2011, the Commandos announced they were leaving the CIFL to join the Ultimate Indoor Football League. On August 23, 2011, it was announced that Bill Back would return as head coach for a 3rd season with the Commandos On July 2, 2012, the Commandos completed their third straight league championship, defeating the Florida Tarpons 62–44 in the UIFL's Ultimate Bowl II. The Commandos had won the CIFL Championship the previous two seasons.===2013===The Commandos left the UIFL after winning its third championship in a row. On August 3, 2012, they re-joined the CIFL. In September 2012, head coach Billy Back told the Commandos that he was not returning to pursue a higher level coaching position in professional football. The team named receivers coach, and former Arena Football League receiver, J.C. Baker as Back's replacement. In November 2012, the Commandos announced that they would suspend operations for the 2013 season, and re-organize for their future success. However, seeing as though ownership thought they could not win with anyone other than Back, the team never returned and disappeared.
Statistics ===Season-by-season results==='''League Champions''''''Conference Champions''''''Division Champions''''''Wild Card Berth''''''League Leader''' SeasonTeam League Conference Division Regular season Postseason resultsFinishWinsLossesTies 2010 2010 CIFL   1st 9 1 '''Won''' CIFL semifinals (Silverbacks) 48–24'''Won''' 2010 CIFL Championship Game (Wolfpack) 54–40 2011 2011 CIFL   1st 10 0 '''Won''' CIFL semifinals (Knights) 71–13'''Won''' 2011 CIFL Championship Game (Blue Racers) 44–29 2012 2012 UIFL Northern  1st 10 2 '''Won''' UIFL semifinals (Explosion) 62–40'''Won''' Ultimate Bowl II (Tarpons) 61–44Totals'''29''''''3''''''All-time regular season record (2010–2012)''''''6''''''0''''''All-time postseason record (2011–2012)''''''35''''''3''''''All-time regular season and  postseason record (2010–2012)'''===Head coaches' records===Name Term Regular Season Playoffs Awards W  L  T  Win%  W  L Billy Back  2010–2012 29360Co-CIFL Coach of the Year (2010) J.C. Baker 2013''Did not play''
Players ===Final roster======Awards and honors===The following is a list of all Commandos players who have won league awards:Season Player Position Award2010Dominick Goodman  WR  Offensive Player of the Year2010 James Spikes  DL  Co-Defensive Player of the Year2010Ben Mauk  QB  CIFL MVP2010Ben Mauk  QB  CIFL Championship Game MVP2011Tyler Sheehan  QB  Offensive Player of the Year2011Tyler Sheehan  QB  CIFL MVP2011Tyler Sheehan  QB  CIFL Championship Game MVP2012 James Spikes  DL  UIFL North Defensive Player of the Year2012 Derrick Moss  RB  1st Team All-UIFL North2012 Phillip Barnett  WR  1st Team All-UIFL North2012 Kyenes Mincy  WR  1st Team All-UIFL North2012 Frank Straub  OL  1st Team All-UIFL North2012 James Frazier  DL  1st Team All-UIFL North2012 James Spikes  DL  1st Team All-UIFL North2012 E. J. Underwood  DB  1st Team All-UIFL North2012 Mack Ogletree  All-Purpose  1st Team All-UIFL North2012 Tyler Sheehan  QB  Honorable Mention All-UIFL North2012 Brandon Boehm  WR  Honorable Mention All-UIFL North2012 Richard Bailey  OL  Honorable Mention All-UIFL North2012 Richard Deutch  OL  Honorable Mention All-UIFL North2012 Terrill Byrd  DL  Honorable Mention All-UIFL North2012 Santino Turnbow  LB  Honorable Mention All-UIFL North2012 Jeff Demary  DB  Honorable Mention All-UIFL North2012 Corry Stewart  DB  Honorable Mention All-UIFL North===Other notable former players===* Rayshawn Askew - RB* Maurice Lee - WR* Robert Redd - WR/DB* Khalil El-Amin - OL* Chris Respress - DB* E.J. Underwood - DB
Staff '''Cincinnati Commandos staff''' '''Front office'''*Co-Owner – Dennis Whitman*Co-Owner – Paul Napier*General manager – Jason Buckley*Director of corporate sales – Hank Reed*Public and community relations – All-Star PR LLC*Director of gameday operations – Mike Hershey*Assistant Director of gameday operations – Andrew Pifer*Equipment manager – Colin Lapp'''Head coach'''*Head coach – J.C. Baker '''Offensive coaches'''*Running Backs - Keith Brooks*Offensive line – Josh Newren'''Defensive coaches'''*Defensive coordinator – Chris Taylor*Defensive line – Sean Middlebrooks*Linebackers –*Secondary – Kelly Sims
References
External links * Cincinnati Commandos official website