Destroyers Get New Coach

The Destroyers are going through changes. After winning the Wisconsin State Football League Championship at the end of their 2014 season, the team moved up to the Mid-states Football League, featuring tougher competition and higher expectations. To meet the demand of this more competitive league, the Destroyers recruited Chris Knapp as the new head coach for the semi-pro football team.

“They won me over with their idea, and their idea is to build the best semi-pro team around,” said Knapp. “It’s kind of unique… I had always known the area was unrepresented in how the sport has taken off in recent years. I think [the Destroyers] are the one team in the area that goes down to play those bigger teams and I think that’s going to interest a lot of the good players.”

The new league includes teams from throughout Wisconsin and Illinois, primarily in the Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago areas. After dominating the WSFL, the Destroyers bid to join the new league and were accepted along with WSFL rivals the Sheboygan Rebels.

To face the stiffer competition, Knapp brings 23 years of coaching experience, including four years at Lawrence University and leading the Fox Valley Force from the WSFL to the more competitive Northern Elite Football League.

“I had already decided to take a break from football,” said Knapp. “I was going to take my first summer off but they contacted me and won me over.”

Knapp knew the Destroyers owners Chris LeCloux, Ryan Zuehlke and Shane Hills from coaching against them while on the Green Bay Gladiators. Knapp will bring his coaching staff from the Fox Valley Force to the Destroyers lineup and he looks forward to meeting the players that will form his new team.

“I was struck right away with the size of these guys and how much they love football and it got me excited,” said Knapp upon attending the Destoyers end-of-season banquet in January.

The MSFL schedule begins in June and lasts into September, forcing some players to choose between playing in two leagues, spring and fall, or one league throughout the summer.

“The Mid-States is trying to be the premier semi-pro team around so they are planting themselves right in the middle there,” said Knapp. “It will be interesting to see what talent we draw and we won’t know until we’re in it.”

The Destroyers will host a combine to recruit new players on March 7 at 3:30 pm at the Sports Emporium in De Pere. By that time, the team’s schedule will be released and the Destroyers will begin preparation for their 2015 season in the MSFL.