Arizona Rattlers Coaching: Kevin Guy vs. Danny White

It was a dark day when I read that Danny White would not be returning to the Rattlers.

The Arizona Rattlers 2010 season was a tale of two coaches.

Head coach Kevin Guy led his team to another playoff appearance with offensive coordinator and legend Danny White calling the plays. It was wonderful to see Kevin Guy scheming with his defense in the end zone, while Danny White loomed in the back field calling the offensive strategies.

Both coaches brought over two decades of coaching Arena Football experience to the field.

Those decades were filled with winning seasons and championships. Guy is known for his defensive prowess and White was an offensive genius.

I felt like The Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte teamed up to coach Arena Football for a season.          

Danny White is an icon in Arizona. The last time White left the Rattlers, they went on a seven game losing streak in 2005.

In Arizona, there are only three sports dynasties: We have the University of Arizona Men’s Basketball, the Phoenix Mercury and the Arizona Rattlers representing us as great organizations.

In the overall history of the team, the Rattlers have 163 wins to their 94 losses since 1992. This Dynasty was in large part created and assembled by Danny White.

To say that we Rattlers fans will miss him would be an understatement.

There is no doubt that the Rattlers are in good hands with Kevin Guy. Coach Guy has never coached a season that did not end in the playoffs. He has seen championship games as a player and a coach and has assembled top tier defensive squads. His teams will usually lead the league by allowing the fewest offensive yards.

I have heard that the AFL doesn’t have defense and that is why scores get so high in a game. I counter that by saying they probably haven’t seen a game coached by Kevin Guy.

In the end if you ask me to be honest, who would I rather see as the Rattlers' coach? I would look you in the eye and tell you that I want both of them again.

Ironically, the gap left by the departure of Danny White is not left in the offensive coordinator spot because Kevin Guy has experience calling the plays.

We will now see Omarr Smith with his first gig as the defensive boss. Smith was a four-time champion in San Jose and has excellent experience coaching defensive backs in the Arena Game.

With the shake up in the coaching slots, Rattlers fans are on edge waiting to see what will happen this year.