Green Bay Blizzard
Current season
Established 2003
Play in Resch Center
in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin
GreenBayBlizzard.com
League/conference affiliations
AF2 (2003–2009)
  • National Conference (2003–2004)
    • Midwestern (2003–2004)
  • American Conference (2005–2009)
    • Eastern (2005–2006)
    • Midwest (2007–2009)

Indoor Football League (2010–present)

  • United Conference (2010–2017)
    • Central North (2010)
    • Great Lakes (2011)
  • Eastern Conference (2022-present)
Current uniform
Team colorsForest green, white, silver
     
MascotBruiser the Yeti, Blizz and Bling – Bruiser's Yeti Cousins
Personnel
Owner(s)Larry & Kathy Treankler
Head coachCorey Roberson
Team history
  • Green Bay Blizzard (2003–present)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (1)
  • af2 American: 2006
Division championships (4)
  • af2 Eastern: 2006
  • af2 Midwest: 2008
  • IFL Central North: 2010
  • IFL Great Lakes: 2011
Playoff appearances (9)
  • af2: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
  • IFL: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2019
Home arena(s)

The Green Bay Blizzard is a professional indoor football team based in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, founded in 2003. The Blizzard began play in the Indoor Football League in 2010, after having played the previous seven seasons in af2, the now-defunct minor league of the Arena Football League. They play their home games at the Resch Center.[1] The team's logo represents Bruiser, the team mascot.

History

af2: 2003–2009

The Blizzard started out as an af2 expansion team in 2003 with Jose Jefferson as the team's head coach. The team finished 2–14, last in the National Conference Midwest Division. They only averaged 2,957 fans a game.[2]

At the beginning of the 2004 season, the Blizzard replaced Jose Jefferson with former Green Bay Packers linebacker Brian Noble. Despite the team improving during the 2004 season, the Blizzard finished 6–10.

In 2005, the team moved from the National Conference to the American Conference of AF2. The Blizzard became a member of the American Conference's East division. The team also replaced Noble with veteran Arena Football League Bob Landsee. The team continued their trend of improvement in 2005 finishing 9–7, good for 3rd in the East Division, and reaching the postseason for the first time. They fell in the first round to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Blizzard head coach Bob Landsee became the first coach in team history to return for their second season. The Blizzard also came under new ownership as former coach Brian Noble lead an investment group that purchased the team. Noble became the new President of the four-year-old franchise and began a complete revitalization of the organization, drastically lowering ticket prices in an attempt to boost their average game attendance. The team set a new single game attendance record of 7,184 in the season finale against Louisville. The team experienced an improvement on the field as well, going into the final game of the 2006 regular season tied with the Louisville Fire for first in the East Division at 9–6. This set up a showdown between the two teams at the Resch Center for the East Division title, which the Blizzard won 54–53. The Blizzard earned a first round bye before facing the 2005 ArenaCup Champion Memphis Xplorers in the Blizzard's inaugural home playoff game, which they won 67–50. This victory sent them to the American Conference Championship Game against the Florida Firecats, which they won 60–47, capturing the conference title and advancing to ArenaCup VII, where they lost to the Spokane Shock 54–37.

Coach Bob Landsee had difficulties resulting from surgery and was forced to take a leave of absence for the 2007 season. He was replaced by defensive coordinator Doug Lytle, who led the Blizzard to a 9–7 season, remaining undefeated at home yet losing all but one road game. The Blizzard made the playoffs for the third consecutive year and surprised their rival and Midwest Division Champion Quad City Steamwheelers 39–34 in the first-round game. The Blizzard carried over their success at home from the regular season by defeating Louisville in the second round 37–27, but lost to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers in their second consecutive American Conference championship game, 46–43.[3]

Head coach Bob Landsee returned in 2008 and led the Blizzard to an 11–5 record and a Midwest Division title. The Blizzard set a single-game record for attendance against Lexington with 7,258 and had the largest average attendance in team history with an average of 6,125 fans per game. In the first round of the playoffs the Blizzard defeated Lexington 65–37 after having lost twice to them in the regular season. The Blizzard then hosted Manchester in a second-round game, losing 55–54 on a last minute Manchester two-point conversion.

After beginning the season by defeating the defending ArenaCup Champion Tennessee Valley Vipers. The Blizzard failed to capture a consecutive Midwest Division title and finished the season 10–6, earning the #6 seed in the 2009 af2 playoffs. The Blizzard advanced to their third American Conference Championship, losing to #1 seed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 72–67.

Indoor Football League: 2010–present

In October 2009, the team announced that unless the team found additional investors that they would be forced to cease operations. The Blizzard found new investors in an ownership group named Titletown Football Group, LLC, led by Green Bay Bullfrogs president Jeff Royle, who purchased the team in late October. In November 2009, the team announced that they would play the 2010 season in the Indoor Football League (IFL) due to AF2 filing for bankruptcy. At a team open house on November 17, 2009, the Blizzard announced their new head coach would be Rik Richards.

On December 5, 2009, the Blizzard announced a name-the-team contest. The Blizzard name and intellectual property was held by the then-defunct Arena Football League (AFL), which was the parent of the Blizzard's former league, af2. The assets of the former AFL were purchased by the newly formed Arena Football 1.[4] The team ownership group was still attempting to purchase the rights to the Blizzard name and had decided to continue with the contest in case the Blizzard name was not able to be purchased, but the owners were able to acquire the Blizzard name and imagery.

Early success

On December 15, 2009, the IFL announced the divisional alignment and schedule for the 2010 season. The Blizzard competed in the United Conference, Central North Division with the La Crosse Spartans, Chicago Slaughter and Bloomington Extreme. The Blizzard won the Central North Division, but lost their first round playoff game against the Chicago Slaughter.

For the 2011 season, the Blizzard competed in the United Conference, Great Lakes Division, which was a renamed Central North Division (the Spartans, Slaughter, and Extreme, along with the Blizzard). The Blizzard won the division title again and improved to 11–3 record. They defeated the Reading Express in their first round playoff game, but lost the United Conference Championship game to the eventual champions, the Sioux Falls Storm.

Because of various teams leaving the IFL, either to join other leagues or cease operations altogether, the league played the 2012 season format in two conferences with no divisions. While the Spartans had ceased operations, the Blizzard's divisional rivals, the Slaughter and the newly renamed Bloomington Edge joined in the single-table United Conference along with the Reading Express, Sioux Falls Storm, Cedar Rapids Titans, Lehigh Valley Steelhawks and Omaha Beef. The Blizzard finished 11–3 again, for second place in the conference and three games behind the undefeated Storm. The Blizzard defeated the Edge in the first round, but again lost to the Storm for the United Conference Championship.

Playoff drought

2013 season

With the Beef, Edge, and Steelhawks leaving the IFL for other leagues and the Express suspending operations, the United Conference was reduced to five teams for the 2013 season, with the Blizzard, Slaughter, Titans, and Storm all returning and the newly renamed Texas Revolution (formerly the Allen Wranglers) moving from the Intense Conference. Junior Aumavae, a nose tackle who spent the 2012 season playing for the Blizzard, was signed by the New York Jets in late March 2013.[5] After compiling a 1–5 record in the season's first six games, head coach Robert Fuller was replaced by defensive coordinator Chad Baldwin. They finished the season 4–10.[6]

2014 season

After the 2013 season, the Chicago Slaughter moved to the Continental Indoor Football League, but the United Conference continued to have five teams with the expansion Bemidji Axemen. In September 2013, Titletown Football Group, LLC sold their majority ownership stake in the team to Larry and Kathy Treankler.[7] The Blizzard began the 2014 season under head coach Chad Baldwin.[8] After the team began the season 0–6, Baldwin was replaced by offensive coordinator Tommie Williams for the remainder of the season.[9] They finished 2–12, losing all of their road games as well as losing their last four games.[10] The Blizzard also introduced their new logo during this season.[11]

2015 season

Tommie Williams had his interim tag removed and was named the head coach of the Blizzard. The Blizzard brought back veteran quarterback Donovan Porterie and traded for Carl Sims. The Blizzard finished with a record of 6–8.[12]

2016 season

On November 3, 2015, Williams and the Blizzard agreed to part ways.[13] On December 7, 2015, Chris Williams was hired as the head coach of the Blizzard.[14] The team finished with a record of 5–11, losing all but one road game.[15]

2017 season

For the 2017 season, the Blizzard had a home record of 1–7 with the only home win being the last home game against the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles. The Blizzard finished with a record of 3–13;[16]

2018 season

To open the 2018 season, the Blizzard started out 0–5 which lead to coach Chris Williams being relieved of his duties following the Week 6 bye, in which he was replaced by Corey Roberson as interim head coach. The Blizzard finished the season 2–12.[17]

2019 season

Corey Roberson was named head coach for the 2019 season. Under Roberson, the Blizzard had a 9–5 regular season record and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Corey Roberson was named the IFL's Coach of the Year.[18]

2020 season

The League started on March 7 with two games, but after the COVID-19 pandemic, the IFL postponed and later canceled all of their games for the season.[19]

2021 season

After the hiatus from the previous season, the IFL returned and the Blizzard won only one road game, while they lost their last four games again for the second time in five complete seasons. The team finished 5–9.[20]

2022 season

In 2022, the IFL made the return of conferences for the first time since 2017, and the Green Bay Blizzard was selected to be in the Eastern Conference. The team finished 6–10.[21]

2023 season

In 2023, the Green Bay Blizzard won 4 of their 7 home games and only won 3 of their away games to finish 7-8 and missing playoffs. The Blizzard were awarded Community Relations of the Year, Franchise of the Year, and the owner Kathy Treankler won the John Petit Person of the Year award.[22][23]

Statistics and records

Season-by-season results

League champions Conference champions Division champions Playoff berth League leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
FinishWinsLossesTies
2003 2003af2NationalMidwest 5th2140
2004 2004af2NationalMidwest 4th6100
2005 2005af2AmericanEast 3rd970Lost Wild Card round (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) 41–48
2006 2006af2AmericanEast 1st1060Won Conference Semifinal (Memphis) 67–50
Won Conference Championship (Florida) 60–47
Lost ArenaCup VII (Spokane) 34–57
2007 2007af2AmericanMidwest 2nd970Won Conference Round 1 (Quad City) 39–34
Won Conference Semifinal (Louisville) 37–27
Lost Conference Championship (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) 43–46
2008 2008af2AmericanMidwest 1st1150Won Conference Round 1 (Lexington) 65–37
Lost Conference Semifinal (Manchester) 54–55
2009 2009af2AmericanMidwest 2nd1060Won Conference Round 1 (Tennessee Valley) 60–56
Won Conference Semifinal (Iowa) 51–46
Lost Conference Championship (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) 67–72
2010 2010IFLUnitedCentral North 1st1040Lost Conference Quarterfinal (Chicago) 39–46
2011 2011IFLUnitedGreat Lakes 1st1130Won Conference Semifinal (Reading) 68–51
Lost Conference Championship (Sioux Falls) 12–52
2012 2012IFLUnited 2nd1130Won Conference Semifinal (Bloomington) 51–30
Lost Conference Championship (Sioux Falls) 42–61
2013 2013IFLUnited 5th4100
2014 2014IFLUnited 5th2120
2015 2015IFLUnited 3rd680
2016 2016IFLUnited 4th5110
2017 2017IFLUnited 4th3130
2018 2018IFL 6th2120
2019 IFL 4th950Lost First Round (Nebraska) 40-45
2020 IFL Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 IFL 10th590
2022 IFL Eastern 6th 6 10 0
2023 IFL Eastern 5th 7 8 0
Totals 1381630All-time regular season record (2003–2023)
99—All-time postseason record (2003–2023)
1471720All-time regular season and postseason record (2003–2023)

Head coach records

Note: Statistics are correct through the 2022 Indoor Football League season

Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
WLTWin%WL
Jose Jefferson20032140.12500
Brian Noble20046100.37500
Bob Landsee2005–2006
2008–2009		40240.62554
Doug Lytle2007970.56321
Rik Richards2010–20112170.75012
Robert Fuller2012–20131280.60011IFL Coach of the Year (2012)
Chad Baldwin2013–20143110.21400
Tommie Williams2014–20158140.36400
Chris Williams2016–20188290.21600
Corey Roberson2018–present29440.39701IFL Coach of the Year (2019)

Notable players

Current roster

Green Bay Blizzard roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

  • -- E.J. Burgess
  • -- Jalyn Cagle

Wide receivers

  • -- Jevin Frett
  •  6 Mike Green Jr.
  • -- Shamond Greenwood
  • -- Raheem Harvey
  • -- Lowell Patron
  • -- Tamarick Vanover Jr.

Offensive linemen

  • 79 Trent Clark
  • -- Josh Cooper
  • -- Nathan Roehr
  • -- Desmond Thomas

Defensive linemen

  • 14 Rafiq Abdul-Wahid
  • -- Keenan Evans
  • -- L.J. Lovelace
  • -- Jacobe Miles
  • -- Brendan Nichols
  • -- Brandon Penerton

Linebackers

  • -- James Brown
  • -- Tyrone Ferguson

Defensive backs

  • -- Nijul Canada
  • -- Jamauri Laguerre
  • -- Michael Miller
  • 22 Ravarius Rivers
  • 24 Shawn Steele II
  • -- Dedrick Vanover
  • -- Cyntel Williams

Special teams

Reserve lists

  • Currently vacant

Rookies in italics
Roster updated November 10, 2023
28 Active, 0 Inactive

→ More rosters

Individual awards

The following is a list of all Blizzard players who have won league awards:

Current staff

Green Bay Blizzard staff
Front office
  • Co-owner – Larry Treankler
  • Co-owner – Kathy Treankler
  • Director of ticket sales - Ryan Hopson
  • Group sales & Season tickets - Ryan Napralla
  • Social media & Community relations - Selena Cashman

Head coach

  • Corey Roberson
  

Assistant coaches

  • Offensive coordinator: Matt Behrendt
  • Offensive line/Defensive line coach: Dean Picotte
  • Athletic trainer: Brooke Kretsch

References

  1. ↑ Complex, Resch. "Green Bay Blizzard 2022 | Resch Complex". www.reschcomplex.com. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  2. ↑ "Green Bay Blizzard Team History | ArenaFan.com". www.arenafan.com. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  3. ↑ "2007 Green Bay Blizzard". www.arenafan.com. ArenaFan. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Arena Football One Announces AFL Asset Bid". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. November 11, 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  5. ↑ Schroeder, Dave (March 31, 2013). "From the Blizzard to the NFL". Green Bay, WI: WBAY-TV. Archived from the original on April 1, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  6. ↑ "2013 Green Bay Blizzard indoor football Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  7. ↑ "Indoor football: Blizzard announces new principal owners". www.greenbaypressgazette.com. Gannett. September 19, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Indoor football: Baldwin returning to the Blizzard". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI: Gannett Company. October 9, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Blizzard fires coach Baldwin after 0-6 start". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI: Gannett Company. April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ "2014 Football Schedule". Green Bay Blizzard. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  11. ↑ "Green Bay Blizzard Logos - Indoor Football League (IFL) - Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net". www.sportslogos.net. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  12. ↑ "2015 Football Schedule". Green Bay Blizzard. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  13. ↑ "Blizzard Part Ways with Coach Williams". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. November 3, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Green Bay Blizzard Hired New Head Coach". OurSports Central. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  15. ↑ "2016 Football Schedule". Green Bay Blizzard. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  16. ↑ "2017 Football Schedule". Green Bay Blizzard. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  17. ↑ "2018 Football Schedule". Green Bay Blizzard. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  18. ↑ "2019 Football Schedule". Green Bay Blizzard. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  19. ↑ "2020 IFL Season Cancelled". OurSports Central. 2020-04-13. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  20. ↑ "2021 Regular Season Standings". goifl.com. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  21. ↑ "2022 Football Standings". goifl.com. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  22. ↑ "2023 Football Standings". goifl.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  23. ↑ "2023 IFL GREEN BAY BLIZZARD AWARDS". Green Bay Blizzard. 2023-08-10. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
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