Calvin Knighten is the new Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator of the Alaska Wild! Coach Knighten comes with much experience and is very familiar with Indoor and Arena Football. He played most of his professional career in Indoor Football. Coach Knighten began Indoor Football with the Wyoming Calvary and Rapid City Red Dogs of the National Indoor Football League from 2000-2004.

In 2005, Knighten began his coaching career within the Intense Football League and coached for the Laredo Lobos. He served as Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the Lobos and formed a competitive friendship with Darnell Lee. It was within this time that Knighten led one of the top offensive schemes against Darnell Lee and the Swashbucklers.The Swashbucklers won over the Lobos 54-52.

In 2006 Knighten performed as player/coach for the Centex Barracudas. Here he played and coached special teams for a short time. In 2007 Calvin Knighten helped create one of the most dangerous special teams in Indoor Football under the Odessa Roughnecks. Knighten had the opportunity to help produce and coach the special teams' player of the year, Maurice Avery. In 2008, Knighten became Defensive Coordinatorand Director of Player Personnel for the Roughnecks.

In the spring of 2009 Calvin was hired by Head Coach Greg McClendon to serve as track and football coach of Midland Christian School. Midland Christian School is known as one of the Top TAPPS private schools in West Texas. Knighten has enjoyed his vast career and is excited to go into 2010 continuing his coaching career in Indoor Football under Darnell Lee. It is Calvin’s goal to build one of the top defenses in Indoor Football with the Alaska Wild and help the team to bring home their first Pacific Division Championship!!! Knighten is also looking forward to the Alaska Wild participating in the United Bowl. This is going to be a great season! Not only is the Wild excited to announce the addition of Coach Knighten, but we are still building our roster with new players and players who are already family to the Wild.

The Wild is pleased to announce the return of our Kicker, Jeff Tongate, 6’2”, and 220 lbs also plays WR when needed. This will be Tongate’s fourth year in the IFL. Tongate played High School football in West Texas 5A district. After graduating Jeff joined the US Air Force and has been in for over 17 years as a firefighter. Last season one of the top scorers for the Wild. In the off season he played for the South Central Cowboys in the Alaska Football League and won a second Championship. Tongate had 5TD receptions and was perfect on all FG and extra points.

Returnee, Andre Velazquez, 6’2 and 180 lbs is from Los Angeles, CA. He will be returning to the Wild to play his second year in indoor football. Velazquez attended Antelope Valley College with records of 1,801 receiving yards, 62 receptions. He was also credited the longest kick return in school history for 100 yards. Velazquez made First Team All Conference.

Before Velazquez was injured in the ’08 Season he was a player that was a weapon at multiple positions. He is best remembered for the kick return that he had against the undefeated Louisiana Swashbucklers on Mother’s Day that tied the game. Velaquez is expected to pick up where he left off before his injury.

Maurice Rumley comes to the Wild feeling like he has something to prove. Calling Birmingham, AL home, the 26 year old played for the prestigious Hoover High football program. Playing as the top ranked wide receiver in the state earned him a scholarship to UNC Chapill Hill as a two sport athlete. He finished his college career at Murray State University. Maurice ended a successful college career by playing in the Las Vegas All American All Star Classic and graduating with degrees in African American Studies and Sports Communication.

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