The West Michigan ThunderHawks were an
indoor football team based in
Grand Rapids, Michigan. The team was most recently a member of the
Indoor Football League. From their inception in 2007 until 2009, the ThunderHawks were known as the
Muskegon Thunder and played at
L.C. Walker Arena
The Trinity Health Arena is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Muskegon, Michigan, United States. It was built in 1960 in partnership with philanthropist and industrialist Louis Carlisle Walker at a cost of $2 million, and on October 27, 1960, was ...
(in their first two seasons they played in the
Continental Indoor Football League). In 2010, the team moved to Grand Rapids, MI. This is where the downfall of the team took place. The season started off hopeful with a 5–2 record. After week 7 the players were promised money at a later date as long as they played (money that they never received). Starting in 2010 the ThunderHawks played their home games at the
DeltaPlex Arena, in nearby
Walker, Michigan. The Thunderhawks did not field a team in 2011.
Franchise history
2007
For their first season, the Thunder had Shane Fairfield as head coach. Fairfield was an accomplished local high school football coach, as he led the
Holton Red Devils to a conference championship as well as two back to back district championships against Muskegon Catholic. Prior to that he coached his alma mater Muskegon Catholic Central, and Muskegon High School.
For their first season with their brand-new identity, the head coach and defensive coordinator was
Detroit native, Terry Foster. Foster was once a star for the
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University (GVSU, GV, or Grand Valley) is a public university in Allendale, Michigan. It was established in 1960 as Grand Valley State College. Its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids. The universit ...
team, and played in the
Arena Football League for the
Grand Rapids Rampage
The Grand Rapids Rampage was an arena football team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The team began play in 1998 in the Arena Football League as an expansion team. They were last coached by Steve Thonn. Their home arena was the Van Andel Arena.
...
. In 2006, Foster was an assistant coach for the Rampage. Offensive coordinator Brent White almost mirrored Fairfield's path from Muskegon to Holton, playing for the Big Reds from 1999 to 2002 and then stepping off the field as assistant JV coach at Holton. Soon afterwards, he quickly became offensive coordinator for the Holton Red Devils, where he led his team to some record-breaking performances.
Schedule
Standings
2008
Schedule
Standings
2009
On January 18, 2009, Adam Pringle, a former player who started at Nose Guard, part-owner of the club, and son of the club's president, died from injuries sustained in a snowmobile accident.
Muskegon Thunder rocked by Adam Pringle's death
MLive.com article. Retrieved on 19 January 2009.
2010
Season-by-season results
Notable players
* Stephen Wasil
Stephen "Steve" Wasil (born April 14, 1984) is a former Arena football quarterback who played for the Muskegon Thunder, Texas Copperheads, Albany Firebirds, Alabama Vipers, Kansas City Command and Tampa Bay Storm. He is currently the Offensive C ...
- QB
* Cullen Finnerty
Cullen Finnerty (August 18, 1982 – May 27, 2013) was an American football quarterback. He was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Grand Valley State.
Finnerty led the ...
- QB
References
External links
Official website
Thunder's 2007 stats
{{CIFL
2007 establishments in Michigan
2010 disestablishments in Michigan
American football teams established in 2007
American football teams disestablished in 2010
Sports in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Defunct American football teams
American football teams in Michigan
Defunct sports teams in Michigan