Milwaukee Mustangs (2009–2012)

The Milwaukee Mustangs were a professional arena football team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They were members of the Arena Football League (AFL), which they joined in 2010 during the league's restructuring. They played their home games at the Bradley Center in downtown Milwaukee.

This article is about the most recent Milwaukee Mustangs franchise. For the original franchise, see Milwaukee Mustangs (1994–2001).
Milwaukee Mustangs
Established 2008
Folded 2012
Played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
League/conference affiliations
af2 (2009)
  • American Conference (2009)
    • Midwest Division (2009)

Arena Football League (2010–2012)

Team colorsBlack, orange, chrome, white
       
MascotStang
Personnel
Owner(s)Arena Football League
Head coachBob Landsee
Team history
  • Milwaukee Iron (2009–2010)
  • Milwaukee Mustangs (2011–2012)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (1)
Playoff appearances (1)
Home arena(s)

The team began play in 2009 as the Milwaukee Iron, and competed in af2, the AFL's developmental league. They joined the AFL after the league's restructuring in 2010. On January 27, 2011, the team officially changed its name to the Mustangs, after an older team that had played in the AFL from 1994 to 2001.[1] Their final head coach was Bob Landsee. The Mustangs were dormant for the 2013 season. In October 2013, the rights to the franchise were sold to Terry Emmert, who subsequently started the Portland Thunder in Portland, Oregon.

History

Milwaukee Iron
The Bradley Center setup for a game in 2009.

The Milwaukee Iron were announced as an af2 expansion team in March 2008 when the team's ownership group announced a three-year lease agreement to play at the Bradley Center beginning with the 2009 season. The announcement came the day before the Milwaukee Bonecrushers kicked off play in the Continental Indoor Football League at Milwaukee's US Cellular Arena.

Milwaukee had been without an arena football team since the Milwaukee Mustangs of the Arena Football League folded in 2001 after not being allowed to play at the Bradley Center.[2]

The Iron played its first game on Thursday, March 12, 2009, a 60–0 exhibition shutout of the New Zealand Overstayers at the Bradley Center.[3] They opened the regular season on Friday, March 27, 2009 when they played host to the Iowa Barnstormers. The Iron lost 60–38.[4]

The Iron entered the Arena Football League in 2010.[5] The team finished the year 11–5 and won the Midwest Division.

Milwaukee Mustangs

The team changed its name to the Mustangs on January 27, 2011. The name "Mustangs" was chosen as it was the name of the original franchise that existed from 1994 to 2001.[1] The team's dancers were called the Fillies. The Mustangs were covered locally by WAUK (540 ESPN MILWAUKEE) and Time Warner Cable Sports 32.

On October 2, 2013 the AFL announced that an ownership group led by Portland businessman Terry W. Emmert has been approved by the AFL’s Board of Directors to purchase a majority of the Milwaukee Mustangs and relocate the team to Portland, Oregon. The team began regular season play as the Portland Thunder in 2014 at the Moda Center (20,636), home of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers.[6]

Players of note

Final roster
Milwaukee Mustangs roster
Quarterbacks

Fullbacks

  • 24 Nick Torresso

Wide receivers

  •  3 James Pitts
  • 20 Taurian Washington
  • 12 Victor Williams
  •  6 Jonathan Wilson
Offensive linemen
  • 88 Thomas Claiborne
  • 98 Michael Diaz
  • 70 Anthony Parker

Defensive linemen

  • 76 Brandon Kirksey
  • 17 Dwayne LeFall
  • 44 Justin Lawrence
  • 90 Quartez Vickerson
Linebackers
  •  9 Marcus Everett

Defensive backs

  • 23 Lance Caldwell
  •  0 Ki'Ameer Johnson

Kickers

  • 16 Jose Martinez
Injured reserve
  • 76 William Blackard DL
  • 12 Dwayne Eley, Jr. WR
  • 21 Xavier Glenn WR
  • 19 Ryan McFoy LB
  • 88 Donald Phelps OL/DL
  • 74 Adam Tadisch OL

Refuse to report

  • -- Anthony Gray DL

League suspension

  • 23 Darnell Burks DB
  • 94 Ross Cochran LB
  • 88 Abre Leggins OL/DL
  • 28 Piere Singfield DB
  • Rookies in italics
  • Roster updated July 20, 2012
  • 23 Active, 15 Inactive

Retired uniform numbers
Milwaukee Mustangs retired numbers
N° Player Position Seasons Ref.
2Gary ComptonWR1994−2001[7]
5Todd HammelQB1994−99[7]
8Kenny StuckerK1994−99[7]

Individual awards

All-Arena players

The following Mustangs players were named to All-Arena Teams:

All-Ironman players

The following Mustangs players were named to All-Ironman Teams:

  • WR/LB Marcus Everett (1)

Coaches of note

Head coaches
Head coach Tenure Regular season
record (W–L)		 Post season
record (W–L)		 Notes
Gary Compton 2009 5–11 0–0 2001 AFL Ironman of the Year
Also Director of Football Operations
Bob Landsee 2010–2012 18–16 1–1 All-Big Ten & All-American Offensive Lineman at the University of Wisconsin
Sixth round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1986

Final staff
Milwaukee Mustangs staff
Front Office
  • Principles/Owners - Dave Bahl, Todd Hansen, Chris Rebholz
  • Vice President - Scott Jacka
  • Chief Operating Officer - Tom Colleton
  • Director of Media/Public Relations - Nicole LeBlanc
  • Director of Ticket Sales - Julie Banach
  • Director of Merchandising/Communications - Carlie Kappl
  • Dance Team Director - Danielle DuFour
   Head Coaches
  • Head Coach/Owner – Bob Landsee
  • Assistant Head Coach / Director of Player Personnel - Mark Stoute

Offensive Coaches

Defensive Coaches

Special Teams Coaches

Notes
  1. "Breaking News: Milwaukee Iron Become Mustangs". Arena Football League. January 27, 2011. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  2. "New team has lease agreement". 2008-03-20. Archived from the original on 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  3. "Milwaukee Iron Reminders for Monday, March 2, 2009". oursportscentral.com. February 27, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  4. "Milwaukee Iron Team Schedule". 2009-07-24.
  5. "ARENA FOOTBALL IS BACK FOR THE 2010 SEASON". 2009-09-28.
  6. "Arena Football to Return to Portland in 2014". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04.
  7. "Iron Retiring Numbers on Opening Night". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. March 23, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
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