Anchorage Daily News

Despite a 4-2 record that has the team in playoff position, Alaska Wild football coach Hans Deemer said Friday he has been fired by owner David Weatherholt.

And many of the players aren't happy about it. Some are calling for a strike.

The coaching change could jeopardize the Wild's next game, May 11 at Sullivan Arena against the defending Intense Football League champion Louisiana Swashbucklers (6-0).

"A lot of the players said, 'I will not play if coach Deemer is not there, because he has stuck his neck out for players,' said defensive lineman Mao Tosi. "I know if I walk, I've got my crew behind me."

As of Friday evening, Weatherholt, president of Alaska Professional Sports Inc., wasn't aware of any players' strike.

"I've only heard rumors," Weatherholt said. "We have players waiting in the wing. We'll have 20 players suited up on the 11th and it should be a great game."

Or it could be an empty Sullivan Arena.

"You can't prepare for Louisiana with all these shenanigans going on," Deemer said. "I can guarantee if there's not a new owner, there's not gonna be a game. There's no cheerleaders either.

"That's the thing, it's not me against him. It's 50 people. It's all the cheerleaders, the cheerleading coaches, the team, everybody is walking."

Weatherholt said he fired Deemer because the coach didn't show up for a meeting Thursday regarding Deemer's other job as a sales representative for the team.

Typically, the top annual salary for head coaches in the Intense Football League is $40,000, Weatherholt said. But he said Deemer was earning close to $50,000 with his added responsibility as sales representative.

"That wasn't the first time (he missed a meeting)," Weatherholt said. "I saw this coming a month ago."

But Deemer said there is another side to the story. He believes he was let go because he has challenged Weatherholt's authority.

"I'm not saying I did everything perfect, but football is the one thing I cherish. It's my religion," Deemer said. "I built the team. I did what I was hired to do. We're 4-2.

"This is what the problem is: I stood up to him. He didn't like it. And I really don't care."

Deemer didn't know he had been fired, he said, until a TV sports anchor for the local ABC affiliate told him before he and Tosi were interviewed for another story Friday.

"Man, I ran practice and everything today," Deemer said. "Not only did I have practice, I had lunch with our general manager."

When Weatherholt hired Fenumiai "Numi" Ilalio Jr. as a volunteer general manager two weeks ago, Weatherholt said it was because he worried about the future of the Wild's coaching staff and now he's left with only Ilalio as a prospect.

Ilalio is considering taking the Wild's head coaching position, Weatherholt said. But he works full-time in the Army National Guard and as an assistant coach for the Service High varsity football team.

Weatherholt -- who has hired and fired four coaches in less than two seasons -- said he is talking with IFL president Chad Dittman about finding a new head coach and new players if the current ones strike.

Firing coaches is part of the game, Weatherholt said. He said San Angelo, a team the Wild beat on Monday, has gone through eight coaches in four seasons.

"It's not part of the business that I like," Weatherholt said. "But you can't let players dictate business decisions."

Deemer said the biggest problem is Weatherholt, whom he calls volatile and abusive.

"That's the kind of guy he is -- he lashes out at people," Deemer said. "It's like having a child in charge of a business."

WILD FOR SALE?

Weatherholt acknowledged hearing rumors that he is selling the team -- and that Deemer and Tosi were interested in buying it.

"Would I sell it? Yes," Weatherholt said. "But only if someone offered the right amount of money. We haven't talked about a change of ownership. And I haven't talked to (Tosi) in a couple of weeks."

Tosi said Friday he was interested in buying the Wild with the help of silent investors.

"I do want to make an offer, but I know (Weatherholt) has a lot of debt he must clear. But we'll cover the debt.

"More than anything we just want this guy out. No hard feelings. It's just something as a team -- all the players, all the coaches, all the staff that are involved with the AK Wild -- they had to see it for themselves what type of person this man is."

Tosi said he's been trying for the past month to find a way to purchase Alaska's first professional football team.

"You see how good our team is starting to become," Tosi said. "It's just starting to pick up as far as the excitement. But if we have to continue dealing with these issues, I'd rather not be a part of it."

Find assistant sports editor Van Williams online at adn.com/contact/vwilliams or call 257-4335. Find reporter Kevin Klott online at adn.com/contact/kklott or call 257-4335.

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