DES MOINES – The Iowa Barnstormers today named Mike Hohensee as Head Coach and Director of Football Operations at a morning news conference this morning at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.  Hohensee joins the organization effective immediately and oversee all coaching and football operations duties.

Hohensee brings a wealth of experience to the Barnstormers organization, having coached in the AFL for over two decades.  He is known best for his nine year run as Head Coach of the Chicago Rush (2000-10), where he led the team to the playoffs every season, including an ArenaBowl XX championship in 2006.

Hohensee has also spent time as Head Coach of AFL franchises in Washington, Albany, New England,Anaheim, and most recently Philadelphia where he spent the 2011 season.  In 17 years as a Head Coach in the AFL, Hohensee’s teams have qualified for the playoffs 13 times.

“We are very excited to have Mike Hohensee on board as our head coach”, stated Barnstormers Team President Jeff Lamberti.   “He is a proven winner in our league and has a passion for Arena Football that is second to none.  He understands the storied tradition of the Iowa Barnstormers franchise, and we strongly believe that he can help lead us to an Arena Bowl Championship”.

Hohensee takes over for Interim Head Coach J.T. Smith, who replaced longtime Barnstormers Coach John Gregory halfway through the 2011 season.  Smith guided the Barnstormers to 3 victories over the final 9 games, but the team finished with a disappointing 5-13 record, missing the playoffs for the second straight year.