The Midway Marauders Indoor Football team announced their new home will be in Bloomington, Illinois at VenuWorks-managed Grossinger Motors Arena for the spring season starting in March 2020.
“We’re pleased to bring a winning team to the community and excited to get started with the season,” Owner Dan Ryan said. “We appreciate the warm welcome from community and everyone at Grossinger Motors Arena. We have been a team for two years, and gone to the championships both years, and now we’re ready to go for number three in Bloomington!”
Owner Dan Ryan is a Marine Corps veteran and Illinois State University graduate. In addition to owning the Midway Marauders Indoor Football team, Dan owns a competitive flag football team as well as Dantech Information Technology, an IT company based in the suburbs of Chicago. He currently serves as the Assistant Defensive Coordinator for the Loyola University Football team.
Dan brings with him a staff that includes General Manager Chris Matthews, Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Timothy Arvanitis, Defensive Coordinator Tremayne Cheers, Defensive Line Coach/Defensive Assistant Normal Perez, and Offensive Coordinator Ivan Prater.
General Manager Chris Matthews boasts an impressive history with the team. In 2017 Chris founded the Midway Marauders indoor football team and led them to a championship season with a 11-1 record, and a second championship appearance in 2018. Chris was also the Defensive Coordinator for the all American game played at US Bank Stadium in Minnesota, a game in which his team won and his defense did not allow any points.
In 2018 Chris was the Defensive Backs Coach, Special Teams Coach, as well as the Marauder’s Recruiter. The team went on to have a 12-0 championship season, was 3-0 in tournament play, and were Florida Bowl National Champions. In 2019 Chris was the Special Teams Coach, Recruiter, and Director of Player Personnel with the Marauders outdoor semipro team that went 11-2 in the regular season and made a championship appearance in their first season in the MSFL semi-profession football league.
Head Coach Timothy Arvanitis starts his twenty-ninth year in coaching football at various levels, twenty-two of which he has been named Head Coach. Coach Arvanitis has had several coaching stops to include coordinator positions at many levels of football. As a head coach, he carries a regular season record 142-12-2 (92%) and a playoff record of 47-18 (72%) and has had four of his former players make it to the National Football League.
The Midway Marauders will play five home games this spring:
Sunday, March 15 – 3:00 p.m. vs. Stateline Sting
Saturday, March 28 – 6:00 p.m. vs. Milwaukee Wolfpack
Saturday, April 4 – 6:00 p.m. vs. Mad City Nightmare
Sunday, April 19 – 3:00 p.m. vs. Illinois Renegades
Saturday, May 2 – 6:00 p.m. vs. Milwaukee Wolfpack
Season tickets can be reserved now by contacting info@midwaymarauders.com. Single game tickets will go on sale at the Subaru Box Office at Grossinger Motors Arena or Ticketmaster.com on Friday, December 20th at 11:00 a.m.
http://midwaymarauders.com For more information
WATCH THE FACEBOOK LIVE WEBISODE OF THE FRIDAY PRESS CONFERENCE HERE
Full Coaching Staff Bios:
Daniel Ryan Owner/CEO: A Marine Corps veteran and Illinois State University graduate, Daniel has been in leadership positions for decades. In addition to owning the Midway Marauders Indoor Football team, Daniel owns a competitive flag football team named the Soldiers as well as Dantech Information Technology, an IT company based in the suburbs of Chicago. During his time serving in the Marine Corps, Daniel served as security in the 2001 Presidential inauguration, taught radio communications at Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA, and led a platoon of 73 Marines as one of several platoon sergeants.
Daniel has held the titles Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator on semipro teams, was a Defensive Coordinator with the Illinois Renegades indoor football team in 2019, as well as a Defensive Line Coach on the Midway Marauders Indoor Football team in 2018.
Currently, Daniel serves as the assistant Defensive Coordinator for the Loyola University football team.
Chris Matthews General Manager: Chris Matthews played high school football at the 2002 City Champion Dunbar Vocational High School in Chicago, playing both running back and defensive back. In 2005 he was a Chicago public league all-star. In college, Chris played safety for two years at Iowa Wesleyan. Chris played a total of five years of semipro football, two with the Kane County Chaos, and three with the Midway Marauders outdoor semipro football team.Chris held the title of Defensive Coordinator with the DeKalb Bengals in 2011. In 2017 Chris founded the Midway Marauders indoor football team and led them to a championship season with a 11-1 record, and a second championship appearance in 2018. Chris was also the Defensive Coordinator for the all American game played at US Bank Stadium in Minnesota, a game in which his team won and his defense did not allow any points.
In 2018 Chris was the Defensive Backs Coach, Special Teams Coach, as well as the Marauder’s Recruiter. The team went on to have a 12-0 championship season, was 3-0 in tournament play, and was Florida Bowl National Champions. In 2019 Chris was the Special Teams Coach, Recruiter, and Director of Player Personnel with the Marauders outdoor semipro team that went 11-2 in the regular season and made a championship appearance in their first season in the MSFL semi-professional football league.
Timothy Arvanitis Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator: Head Coach Timothy Arvanitis starts his twenty-ninth year in coaching football at various levels, twenty-two of which he has been named Head Coach. Coach Arvanitis has had educational experiences from several college and pro coaches, which include, Bo Schembechler, Barry Alvarez, Jon Gruden, Lou Holtz, Brian and Chip Kelly, Tommy Tuberville, Urban Meyer, and Frank Lenti, among others.
In 2004, Coach Arvanitis was invited to serve as the Head Coach of the United States team in the World Bowl. ESPN aired a television show named “Timeless” on Coach Arvanitis and his journey to capture the National Championship through the 2004 football season. In 2012, Coach Arvanitis was invited to coach at the All American Bowl in Houston Texas.
Coach Arvanitis has had several coaching stops to include coordinator positions at many levels of football. As a head coach, he carries a regular season record 142-12-2 (92%) and a playoff record of 47-18 (72%).
Coach Arvanitis has had four of his former players make it to the National Football League. Coach Arvanitis is also a licensed IHSAA Football Official. He and his lovely wife Robin have two children, Riley and Renn, all of which live in Schererville Indiana.
Tremayne Cheers Defensive Coordinator: Coach Cheers started his playing career at Dunbar Vocational High School in Chicago, playing in the 2000-2004 seasons. From 2005-2007 Coach Cheers played football at Miles College in Fairfield, AL. Coach Cheers has 8 years of semi-professional playing experience, and since 2012 is the owner of the Midway Marauders outdoor semi-pro team, a team that has recently made back to back championship appearances, and are the 2019 Florida Bowl National Champions. Coach Cheers also served as the Offensive Coordinator during their 12-0 championship season.
Coach Cheers continues to serve as the defensive coordinator of the Midway Marauders Indoor Football team, a team that has also made back to back championship appearances, securing the championship in 2017.
Ivan Prater Offensive Assistant: Coach Prater has two years of indoor football playing experience as both a running back as well as a defensive back, and has eight years of semiprofessional playing experience, where he was a one-time All-Star safety, and a five-time GMFL All-Star running back.
Coach Prater has a total of five years of semi-professional coaching experience, where he served as the Head Coach and Assistant Coordinator or the Illinois Firehawks, Running Backs Coach for the Midway Marauders outdoor semi-professional team, and has a total of four years of ownership with the Firehawks and Marauders outdoor semi-professional teams. He boasts four playoff appearances, two championship appearances, one championship, and one National championship. Coach Prater also has two years of coaching experience with the Midway Marauders Indoor Football team.
