Augusta Colts indoor football coach Cedric Roach did not coach for an arenafootball2 team as he claimed on his resume, The Augusta Chronicle has learned.
Mr. Roach's resume listed seven professional or semi-pro football teams he claimed to have coached during a period of 11 years. At least five of those years are inaccurate, multiple sources have confirmed.
Colts owner and general manager John Sisson, who introduced Mr. Roach as the team's coach Nov. 11, said Mr. Roach will keep his job.
"I will stand by my previous statement that, 'I believe (Coach Roach) is the right man for this team at this time in our history,' " Mr. Sisson said in an e-mail Thursday afternoon.
The highest level of football Mr. Roach claimed to be a part of was the arenafootball2's Carolina Rhinos, where his resume said he served as a defensive coordinator and line coach from 2001-02. Multiple former coaches and players for the Rhinos confirmed this week that Mr. Roach was never on staff with the team.
Mr. Roach did not return multiple phone calls left Wednesday and Thursday seeking comment.
The Carolina Rhinos, whose existence lasted from 2000-2002 in Greenville, S.C., were led by Earnest Wilson for the first two seasons and Rod Miller in 2002. Both coaches said Roach was never on staff, though his resume claimed he, among other duties, "coordinated and installed the defense" and "created and implemented defensive playbook."
"I've never heard of him, and I was there every year the team existed," said Mr. Miller, now the football operations manager and an assistant coach with the Arena Football League's Grand Rapids Rampage. "He was never part of the Rhinos."
Mr. Roach's resume also claimed he worked with the Charleston Firecats of the North American Football League from 1998-2000, but the team wasn't created until 1999, and he wasn't hired as the Firecats' head coach until 2001, according to a Charleston Post and Courier story written in June 2001.
The Colts voluntarily went dormant this season and plan to return to action in 2010. Mr. Sisson explained his reasoning for keeping Mr. Roach in an e-mail:
"I am far more concerned with what coach Roach has experienced (and learned) since the early days of his career, and I believe that he is well prepared to have great success at this level," he said.
Mr. Sisson's e-mail also included a revised list of teams Mr. Roach had worked for, including contact numbers to confirm his employment. The list had several changes to dates and teams from the original resume and did not include the Carolina Rhinos.
Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.
AUGUSTA COLTS OWNER RESPONDS
E-mailed statement from Colts owner and general manager John Sisson:
1) Coach Roach was highly recommended by a member of our 2008 Augusta Colts squad; who has played for him elsewhere. Numerous other (2008/2010) Colts players also know Coach Roach personally, respect him, and are (even now) working hard in order to move our team (and their careers) forward with Coach Roach. Note: I wonder if you have taken the time to interview some of these players about their impressions of our new coach?
2) Coach Roach was properly interviewed. His name was amongst many solid candidates; some with greater (AIFA, NIFA, A2) credentials. However, whereas his knowledge of the indoor game was most evident; his coaching philosophy was exactly what we were seeking; his contacts in the game are extensive; his communication skills are excellent; and his team preparation and work ethic are downright refreshing; his name moved to the top of our pile of resumes and he was offered the position. That said, I will stand by my previous statement that, 'I believe (Coach Roach) is the right man for this team at this time in our history.'
3) Regarding his references, until now, they all came back without a single blemish. Therefore I am not inclined to toss our coach under the proverbial bus due to our inability to reach someone who might have known Coach Roach, as an assistant coach, with a minor league team, which played up in Greenville, S.C., nearly a decade ago. No, I am far more concerned with what Coach Roach has experienced (and learned) since the early days of his career, and I believe that he is well prepared to have great success at this level.
Therefore, I am sticking by my coach with the understanding that -- if any of us manage to survive this economic mess which is now impacting sports teams all across the country -- Cedric Roach will be the head coach of the Augusta Colts on opening night in March 2010.
He lied on his resume. Shows a lack of integrity and honesty. He should be fired immediately. Therefore Mr. Sisson, you lack integrity as well. Good luck. I will not support a team run by liers.
This is some real mess. Just because this a football team does not mean that it cannot be professional! If he lied about his coaching experience and past coaching jobs what makes you think he won't lie again to get what he wants out of Augusta? The AUG is nothing to play with and personally I think the team should be managed by someone with better business sense than this man. To be honest, I think that if he doesn't have the money for this season, how is he going to have it for next season. Especially with the economy's condition. THINK PEOPLE!!!
Just make it official and fold the team. There is almost no chance they will be playing in 2010
The last time a coach lied on his resume and it was made public was George O'Leary. He also lied about his credentials to get the Notre Dame job. Once the school found out, they fired him. That's what a classy, professional organization would do. But classy, professional, and organiztion do not go with the Colts. Cedric Roach doesn't have any integrity nor does John Sisson. That's why Sisson can easily defend Roach because they have a few things in common. The first is that they are both liars, the second is that they both believe in this fairy tale that the Colts are going to make a comeback.Like I have said before, this Cedric Roach just appeared out of nowhere. He can lay claim to being the head coach of a Womens Football Team though (no offense ladies). Sisson wasn't even man enough to talk to Billy over the phone, he typed an email. I hate having to deliberately slam someone, but i guess this is what it's going to take. The fact that the Colts can keep getting into the paper or even remain local news makes this city look bad. Most cities wouldn't allow this type of mockery to continue on. I'm not the smartest man in Augusta, but Roach and Sisson are both liars.
One liar with another liar..how fitting! Who cares.,...this "team" is nonexistant and will not see another year in Augusta. Everyone knows the Colts are mismanaged by a know-nothing who has a fetish for mascot uniforms and half truths. Now he has found a new friend who apparently shares his desire to embellish his attirbutes and experience. trash, pure trash on both sides. Show them both the door Augusta!
Now that you mention mascot fetishes, I believe John was dressed up as the Colt at The Lynx last game. How fitting.
Great job Byler, you smelled a rat and pulled its tail! More like slammed it in the trap. Sisson seems to be an expert at changing dates and info in documents these days...just ask Bubba Diggs who is having to sue him for promised pay. This is sure to aid him in his case. More proof Sisson twists facts and numbers to fit his own agenda! What's a little fudging here and fibbing there..its only Augusta, and who pays attention anyway???
Just another shady move by a lousy owner. Why even cover this stuff, we all know there will be no more arena football in Augusta. If the man knew how to manage a team then we'd be getting ready for an upcoming season. You have to advertise, creat a buzz, get kids in the seats. It's just sad that we can't have anything in Augusta, blow up James Brown Arena, build a new one in Columbia County and let's go fill some seats.
Sounds like Roach took a page out of George O'learys book!
Kudos to the editorial cartoon in yesterday's newspaper. You seem to capture the true zest of these 2 fellows. It would be funny if it wernt true and so disturbing.
There is a reason people need to see this...people will be scammed otherwise. A ton of fans (myself included) got scammed out of a lot of money for the Carolina GhostRiders, from the AIFA's predecessor, the AIFL. Hotels didn't get paid. Sponsors were bilked. The turf was incredibly horrible and the game day prodcution the worst I've ever seen. The original GM bolted town as is supected of embezzlement, the second head coach turned out to be a convicted criminal from Florida who ended up running a sham league in Ohio later that year. I noticed in this story none of the defenders of Roach from the story of his introduction are here defending him now. The real issue however is your team's owner. If HE won't immediately fire him, it says all you need to know about the team. (Funny he can't produce a contract for his former coach, that's real professional, huh?) If the LEAGUE won't even state anything about this publicly, that's all you need to know about the league. With the AFL "suspending operations" (and likely folding) there are PLENTY of head and assistant coaches who right now have better resumes than even Roach's false one. WHY keep him? Roach simply has to go.
yes, but her inconsistency was a job TITLE. She held the position of GM, but didn't actually have the title. That was a lot different than saying you were a Coach or Assistant Coach of a team that you didn't even watch play a game, much less serve as a staff member. Coach Roach and Sisson deserve each other.
Dennis, don't worry. Roach will go away, right along with the Colts. they all need to go away. All this money Sisson is wasting on paying a new coach and spending money attending a parade here and there could go a long way to pay off his former coach's contract as well as the debts he assumed a year ago and hasn't paid off yet.
Great points made by all here! You are so right. The league is a farce and if they had any professionalism, they would be on top of this and throw Sisson out. Roach hasn't even made comments to clear his name and that tells me he is hiding out. If the AFL is canceled, this should let businesses know that this minor league sham is on its way out too. No matter how many times he puts on that horse costume and rides around town, it won't make him any more knowledgeable or credible. Just makes him look desperate and a bit looney. Get over it, pay your people, and find a real job. Take that side show elsewhere. There are enough roaches in the CSRA; we don't need another one who hangs out with men in horsey outfits.
The Augusta Colts do have a chance to make it, if you people would give them a chance. They have great local talent. Their quarterback is Brandon Satcher. IF that kid could keep his head on straight his talent could lead him to the NFL. Young and Stone are great too. Support the players AUGUSTA
As long as Satcher doesn't choke and backslide like he did in Hawaii~~~~Augusta supports the players, but Let's see how much the players continue to support the horses.
Augusta listen, the players who were with the 2008 Colts are no longer part of the Colts organization or whatever it is. They are all free-agents and can go where ever they please. Satcher is a good guy and does not deserve to be slandered in this manner. I would support a team in Augusta, but not a Sisson team! I personally hope somebody with business and sports knowledge can come in and put a reputable team in Augusta.
I hate to toot my own horn, but I'm going to toot this one. Look at the Veteran Is Tabbed As New Coach, and read the 7th Post made on Nov 13, 2008 at 5:36PM. And pay special attention to the Allegedly part. You know things are bad when your own cronies (probably themselves posing as others), won't even touch this one with a stick. So keep up the bad work Sisson, who probably sucks at Monopoly too.
As someone who knows arena football is DEAD in Augusta but not forever. When the trash is swept up here in Augusta and put in the dump and the poor excuse for leadership is nailed to the barn door by the now four lawsuits currently awaiting trial the truth will comeout.
They are investors watching and hopefully they can come into Augusta clean up the bad blood and run a team based on honesty, dignity and class unlike this shameful disgrace for a arena football organization my best to the players hope they find homes elseswhere.
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