The Nashville Kats Revisit Their Past for a Leader to Guide Them Into The Future

Finally, the moment the Nashville Kats fans have been waiting for the team has finally announced their 2024 Head Coach. The man tasked with the job should bring back memories of the previous iteration of the team. Nearly two decades ago, Dean Cokinos served as the right hand man to Pat Sperduto during the second coming of the Kats.

The team lasted just three years under Bud Adams’ ownership and Cokinos was there for all three. During this stretch the team compiled a 21-26-1 record. During this three year period Cokinos began assisting the offense, before taking over as coordinator in year two. He helped lead his quarterbacks to a 195-54 touchdown to interception ratio. His first year as coordinator the offense produced 13 more touchdown passes despite starting two different players.

Left Without a Home

After the Kats shut down Cokinos was hired as an AF2 Head Coach for the Tennessee Valley/Alabama Vipers. He would actually bring former Dallas Cowboys QB, and Clint Stoerner with him to his new team after watching him leave the Kats in 2007. This would be Stoerner’s last professional stop. After three years and he had a 28-20 record with an Arena Cup Win in 2008. He had a 4-1 record in the playoffs. This was his first Arena Cup win.

After three years with the Vipers, Cokinos got the call to join the Georgia Force of the AFL. With the Force, Cokinos lasted two seasons, making the playoffs both times. Both years he lost to the Jacksonville Sharks. This moved his career AFL/AF2 record as a head coach to 48-37, 5-2 in playoffs. After two years with Georgia, he moved to the Professional Indoor Football League.

New League, New Accolades

During his time in the PIFL, he won a championship in his first season and took home the Coach of the Year award as well. This came on the heels of a 9-2 season. By the following year the team bottomed out to 4-8. After this poor season, the high expectations of his first season helped lead to his exit after which he spent one season as the Head Coach of the New Orleans Voodoo. At this point he held a 62-47 record with two championship wins and six trips to the playoffs in nine seasons.

His one season in Nola didn’t go well as he led the team to a losing record; 3-14 overall. This led to his exit. With his reputation soiled after back to back losing seasons and a record of 7-22 over his last two years, he was forced to take a Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach position with Tampa. He spent just one season there before joining the Washington expansion team in their inaugural season.

In year one he only saw 3 wins in 14 games, while the following season he was relieved of his duties midseason after opening the season 0-4. This would be his last Head Coaching position until current day. He was hired in late 2022 by a High School as their Head Coach but chose to resign before the season.

Six Degrees of Separation from Jeff Fisher

You might ask yourself why Jeff Fisher, who is assisting the Kats with their launch, would recommend this coach. Well back in 2003, Cokinos first year coaching arena ball, came as he was trying to pursue a career in the NFL as a scout with the Tennessee Titans. He spent the first five seasons of his Arena Football coaching career also working with Fisher as a scout. Undoubtedly helping himself to the players that weren’t up to the Titans standards.

This connection, his vast experience coaching arena ball, and his background with the Kats was enough to make this a home run hire, but what helps even more when building a roster for this season, is his recent background. Cokinos has spent the last four years coaching at the High School level in Tennessee. Giving him first hand knowledge of the best players coming from the state since 2020. It wouldn’t surprise me to see an emphasis on Tennessee born players much like we have seen in Louisiana with the Voodoo.

Jeff Fisher was already a home run hit for the new group in hopes of building a presence in their market, now they tap a local coach with a long history in the AFL, AF2 and overseas as a Head Coach. Great move, and exciting times for the Arena Football League and the Nashville Kats.

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