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Shawn Liotta serves as the Head Coach and Director of Football Operations for the Erie Storm.
Coach Liotta has developed a reputation as one of the most innovative offensive minds in indoor football evidenced by having led two different quarterbacks in two seasons to recognition as AIFA All-Stars, including David Dinkins in 2007 and Rod Rutherford in 2008. Not to be outdone, Liotta’s 2008 defensive squad finished in the top three in the AIFA in several categories including defensive touchdowns scored, fumbles recovered, quarterback sacks, and opponent third down conversions.
In his first year as a professional Head Coach in 2007, Liotta led the franchise, then based in Pittsburgh, to the playoffs in its inaugural season, rebounding from an 0-3 start to finish the regular season with a 7-7 record. The highlights of the 2007 season included a convincing 62-33 win over then-defending league champion Canton, and a 86-72 victory against the Erie Freeze, where Liotta’s club set the record for most points scored in an AIFA game. Liotta was rewarded for his first-year accomplishments with his selection to head the North Division All-Star squad in the AIFA’s All-Star game played in Florence, which his team won 58-45.
In his second year with the franchise, now relocated to Erie for 2008, Liotta led the team to a 10-4 regular-season record and a share of the Northern Division title. Erie was almost unstoppable at the Tullio Arena, winning six of seven, including the franchise’s first victory over Reading, perennially one of the AIFA’s top teams. Liotta built a talented roster including several well-known players with previous Erie indoor football connections, including OL Anthony Peluso, LB Roosevelt Benjamin, WR Darmel Whitfield, DB Sam Reynolds, PK J.R. Cipra, and Dinkins, and supplemented it with new talent such as Rutherford, DB Jovon Johnson, LB Glenroy Watkins, DL Phil Tillman, WR Eugene Baker and several others with previous NFL and AFL ties.
Liotta has coached players to school records in almost every possible offensive category in his tenures as a coach at the high school and collegiate levels. Liotta gained experience at the collegiate level at Duquesne University as an Assistant Coach/Running Backs from 2002-2004. During his tenure, Duquesne captured the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA National Championship, and the 2002 and 2003 MAAC Championships. Liotta was heavily involved in recruiting efforts and assisted with the school's annual "Pro-Day" Combine. Liotta has served as a Varsity Head Football Coach in Pennsylvania for 5 seasons at West Shamokin and Line Mountain High School. While at Line Mountain, Liotta directed one of the top passing offenses in the entire state, and shattered most school records for the Eagles.Prior to Duquesne, Liotta served as an Assistant Offensive Coordinator at Springdale High School. While at Springdale in 2002, Liotta's offense featured the first 1,000 yard rusher in school history, and the team made the playoffs for the first time in 29 years. From 2002-2003, Liotta worked for the Metro Index Scouting Service, assisting with scouting and player evaluations for the high school, collegiate, and professional level.
Liotta is a 2002 graduate of Robert Morris University and resides in Lower Burrell, PA with his wife Allison. |
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