Sale of Kent Predators indoor football team falls apart; new coach resigns

The Kent Predators of the professional Indoor Football League are looking for a new owner after a deal to sell the team to the Michael Tuckman-led West Coast Sports collapsed just two months before the start of the 2011 season. The Predators also need a new coach. Heron O'Neal has resigned as coach just a month after a Nov. 18 press conference at the ShoWare Center that announced him as the new coach and Tuckman as team president.

Michael Tuckman

Michael Tuckman

The Kent Predators of the professional Indoor Football League are looking for a new owner after a deal to sell the team to the Michael Tuckman-led West Coast Sports collapsed just two months before the start of the 2011 season.

The Predators also need a new coach. Heron O’Neal has resigned as coach just a month after a Nov. 18 press conference at the ShoWare Center that announced him as the new coach and Tuckman as team president.

Ken Moninski, the current owner of the Predators, confirmed in a phone interview Dec. 27 that the deal to sell the team to West Coast Sports, headed by Tuckman, fell apart.

“Our purchase agreement did not come to fruition,” Moninski said. “We are looking at other options but I can’t say what those are until I discuss them with the league.”

Moninski plans to have an announcement next week about the future of the team. The Predators are scheduled to open the season Feb. 25 at the ShoWare Center.

“We’re hoping to have a statement or news on all of this at the beginning of next week,” he said.

Moninski, of West Seattle, owns Tukwila-based Global Aircraft Services, a company that provides flight crews and logistics for the managed movement of commercial aircraft around the world. He declined to discuss why the deal to sell the Predators to West Coast Sports failed.

“My intent is to see the team play in 2011,” Moninski said.

What are the odds of the Predators playing in Kent next season?

“I’d like to think good at this point,” Moninski said. “There are other options in front of us. There are potential parties interested in seeing the team play in 2011.”

Moninski confirmed that O’Neal resigned as coach. Kent had hired O’Neal, the former Billings Outlaws coach, after the Billings team folded in early October. O’Neal coached the Outlaws to the 2009 and 2010 IFL titles.

West Coast Sports, under the leadership of Tuckman, recruited O’Neal to coach in Kent.

“I was not involved in that,” Moninski said.

O’Neal told the Billings Gazette from his home in Billings that he quit the Predators because Tuckman, who hired him, had left the team. He also told the paper he had not been paid for the three months he was on the job.

“I guess we’ll have to if we are going to play in 2011,” Moninski said about finding a new coach. “We’ll have to figure out who will coach.”

Kent has signed a lot of players for the 2011 season, although players are not paid until they play. They receive $225 per game. O’Neal signed several former Billings players to play for Kent. He told the Billings paper he doubted those players would stay with the Predators.

Tuckman tried to pump up the Predators and O’Neal at a Nov. 18 press conference. Tuckman described himself as the team president and said he planned to buy the team. He said the 300 current season ticket holders made buying the team worth the investment.

Tuckman could not be reached for comment Dec. 27.

The Predators finished the 2010 season with a 5-9 record. They were fourth out of five teams in the Pacific North Division and failed to make the 16-team playoffs in the 24-team league.

The Predators drew an average of about 2,000 fans per game at the city-owned ShoWare Center. They played seven home games from March through June at the 6,000-seat arena. They are scheduled to play seven home games in 2011 as well.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Kent Police Detective Ford retires after 29 years with department

Helped solve 44-year-old cold case murder in 2024

Courtesy Photo, King County
Prolific tagger faces charges for damage to Kent water tower

Man one of dozens who reportedly tagged properties across King County, including West Hill tower

t
Federal Way man charged in Kent I-5 crash that killed passenger

Documents state that evidence reportedly showed he was the driver, but he blamed the passenger.

The Kent Police Department went all out with their “Moana” themed display - even Maui showed up. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
The Hogwarts Express pulls into Battle of the Badges | Photos

The 2024 Battle of the Badges took over the Renton Technical College on Dec. 14.

Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
City of Kent crime numbers drop in 2024 compared to 2023

Vehicle thefts, commercial burglaries and robberies see big decreases

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent School District says it ‘will do better next time’ with school closures

Late notifications issued about closures after Dec. 18 windstorm

t
Kent Police arrest pair for downtown robbery of pedestrian

Reportedly used pepper spray to attack Kent man, 56, as he walked on sidewalk Dec. 16

Meeker Middle School, one of six schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18 in the Kent School District due to power outages from a windstorm. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Windstorm causes closure of six Kent schools due to power outages

Four elementary, two middle schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18; couple of city roads closed

Volunteers wrap gifts during the 2023 Toys for Joy program. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Puget Sound Fire puts out plea for more Toys for Joy donations

Toys needed for children ages 9 to 12; more bikes, scooters requested; deadline is Dec. 20

t
Kent man, 19, faces multiple charges after pursuit near Wenatchee

Driver reportedly fails to stop for state trooper, crashes stolen vehicle along State Route 97

Kent School District Board Director Awale Farah, left, and Superintendent Israel Vela at a high school graduation last summer. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Awale Farah resigns immediately from Kent School Board

Says because of ‘family commitments’ he cannot fulfill rest of his term that expires in November 2025

t
Kent’s Lower Russell Levee project receives John Spellman Award

City, King County Flood District and other partners recognized for historic preservation