EXPRESS NAME FORMER 8X ALL-PRO LB MIKE "HOLLYWOOD" MCKINNON AS NEW HEAD COACH

The Erie Express are pleased to announce Mike "Hollywood" McKinnon as our new Head Coach. Mike takes over the job from coach Charles Portman who will remain on staff as the Assistant Head Coach and defensive coordinator. This move was done to accommodate Coach Portman's heavy workload commitment.

Mike takes over an Express team that in 2024 went 11-2 during the regular season and lost in the TPFL Championship game. The Express also received an invite to play in the I-75 Bowl (3-6 loss to the Sheboygan County Sabercats.) The Express also received an invite to play in the USA Bowl National Championship in Daytona Beach (41-0 loss to Indy Bison). Due to terrible commitment on the part of our rostered players, Mike had to dust off his cleats and joined us in Florida due to only 17 rostered players making the commitment to participate.

Although Mike may be in his first season as head coach he is by no means a rookie to the Erie Express. Mike begins his eleventh season with us after having coached for three years and played 7 seasons at the middle linebacker position all of which he was named All-Pro. Mike played a major role in our finishing the 2021 season undefeated and as GDFL National Champions. Mike helped us kick off the 2022 season in January by winning the USA Bowl Summer Division National Championship 25-24 in Daytona Beach, Florida, his final game as a player.

As a player, Mike finished his career with 550 total tackles (1 season with Rampage, 7 Express) was an 8x All-Pro selection, 3X National Champion, 2x Tyler Covato Man of the Year winner, and was named Most Outstanding LB multiple times.

Mike currently coaches at Girard High school as the Linebackers coach. Prior to Girard, Mike served at Northwestern High School as the assistant defensive coordinator and linebacker coach.

At Northwestern the Wildcats were named Region Champions 3x and Mike had an All-Region LB every year he was there. Mike has had at least 2 All Region linebackers every year since 2018.

Coach "Hollywood" has guided his youth teams (Erie Bulldogs) to a pair of National Championships, 4 league championships and along the way was named Coach of the Year in 2018 and defensive coordinator of the Year in 2019.

"Mike knows exactly what we are expecting and will do an amazing job, He has a track record of excellence as both a player and coach. Every head coach we have ever had has done an amazing job and we know this will remain the same under Mike's leadership. His passion and leadership qualities are top shelf and played a major role in our being a national name at this level of football. We are blessed to have Mike on board with us are are expecting another amazing season under his guidance."-Director of Operations Paul Pennington.

Happy to have you back on board with us COACH MIKE! GO EXPRESS!