ARENA FOOTBALL

• Avengers fire Hodgkiss

  
  

  Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Avengers have fired head coach Ed Hodgkiss and assistants Brent Winter and Michael Church.

  Hodgkiss spent the past seven seasons with the Avengers, guiding them to a regular-season record of 57-53. The club reached the playoffs five times during his tenure, but managed just one postseason win.

  "The coaching staff worked tirelessly and was extremely dedicated to the goal of winning an Arena Bowl championship, but the production simply wasn't there in recent seasons," said Avengers owner Casey Wasserman. "We recognize and appreciate the significant contributions that Ed Hodgkiss and his assistant coaches made to our franchise, but I feel strongly that we need to go in a new direction." The Avengers were 9-7 in 2007 and won a playoff game for the first time in club history, earning Hodgkiss a contract extension through the 2011 season with an option for 2012.

  However, the club struggled to a mark of just 5-11 this season, finishing last in the Western Division.

  06/24 12:43:42 ET