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 (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 team, and played in the Arena Football League for the Grand Rapids Rampage. 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 afterward, he quickly became offensive coordinator for the Holton Red Devils, where he led his team to some record-breaking performances.
Schedule DateOpponentHome/AwayResultMarch 24Summit County RumbleNeutral (Steubenville)Won 42-21March 31Marion MayhemAwayLost 20-48April 13Summit County RumbleHomeWon 54-12April 21Port Huron PiratesHomeLost 13-47April 28Chicago SlaughterHomeLost 40-57May 5Kalamazoo XplosionAwayLost 37-41May 12Port Huron PiratesAwayLost 37-76May 19Springfield StallionsAwayWon 49-25May 26Springfield StallionsHomeWon 52-36June 9Chicago SlaughterHomeLost 34-58June 16Kalamazoo XplosionHomeLost 28-34June 23Lehigh Valley OutlawzHomeLost 54-55June 29Marion Mayhem (Playoffs)AwayLost 57-68
Standings
2008
Schedule DateOpponentHome/AwayResultMarch 8Marion MayhemHomeLost 34-33Archived 2008-04-23.March 21Rock River RaptorsHomeWon 44-36 March 29Milwaukee BonecrushersAwayWon 60-35April 4Kalamazoo XplosionHomeWon 44-37 (OT)April 12Fort Wayne FreedomHomeWon 39-33April 25Chicago SlaughterHomeLost 10-27May 3Kalamazoo XplosionAwayLost 19-49May 10Flint PhantomsAwayWon 55-42May 17Milwaukee BonecrushersHomeLost 46-51May 24Fort Wayne FreedomAwayLost 38-42May 31Chicago SlaughterAwayLost 35-38June 6Saginaw StingAwayLost 23-60June 14Kalamazoo Xplosion (Playoffs)AwayLost 33-50
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 League championsConference championsDivision championsWild card berthLeague leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason resultsFinishWinsLossesTies 2007 CIFL Great Lakes 5th 4 8 Lost Great Lakes Division Qualifier 57-68 (Marion) 2008 CIFL Great Lakes East 2nd 5 7 Lost Divisional 33-50 (Kalamazoo) 2009 IFL United Atlantic 5th 1 13 2010 IFL United Atlantic East 3rd 5 9 Totals1537All-time regular season record (2007–2010)02-All-time postseason record (2007–2010)1539All-time regular season and postseason record (2007–2010)
Notable players Stephen Wasil - QB Cullen Finnerty - QB
References
External links Official website Thunder's 2007 stats