November 15, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Katy Ruff Riders hire former Rice University and NFL alumnus
Donald Hollas to lead inaugural IFL campaign
KATY, TX - On November 15, 2006, the expansion Katy Ruff Riders of the Intense Football League (IFL) named Donald Hollas as the team’s first head coach. Hollas, a former NFL quarterback and alumnus of Rice University, will lead the Ruff Riders in 2007.
“We were looking for someone who exhibited a strong ability to lead as well as an individual with an extensive football background,” said Ruff Riders Director of Operations Steve Martin. “Coach Hollas’ abilities and experiences made him the perfect fit for our vision and we know he will make the immediate impact that is necessary in the inaugural season of any franchise.”
Recently, the community of Katy announced the Ruff Riders’s new ownership group and management team. Team owners are Brandon and Albert Smith, Marc Greenfield and David Iglinsky. The Smiths’ are a father and son duo who own Allegiance HR Solutions, a staffing company with offices in Houston, El Paso, Odessa, and College Station. They formed Allegiance Pro Sports, LLC and purchased not only the Katy franchise for play in 2007, but also a franchise in El Paso, Texas for the 2008 season. Supported by the Katy Chamber of Commerce as well as the Houston-area business community, the Ruff Riders are excited and encouraged about the upcoming campaign.
“I am extremely excited about this opportunity. We must exhibit pride in everything we implement,” said Hollas. “We will establish championship standards for this franchise based on discipline,” he said. “This is a dream come true. We want to establish a two-season tradition. Katy ISD High Schools owns football in the fall. We want to own that football tradition in the spring.”
Born in Kingsville, Texas, Hollas was raised in Rosenberg, Texas and prepped at Lamar Consolidated High School. He quarterbacked the Rice University football team from 1987-90 and received the George R. Martin Award, which signifies the team’s most valuable player, in 1989.
After graduating from Rice in 1991, Hollas played professionally for nine years. He quarterbacked in the National Football League for four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and two seasons with the Oakland Raiders as well as spending time with the Detroit Lions, Houston Oilers and Washington Redskins organization. During his professional career, he also had a stint as quarterback with the now defunct Texas Terror organization of the Arena Football League. In 2000, his professional career came to a conclusion and Hollas entered the coaching ranks. He landed his first coaching job with the Spring Football League where he served as Offensive Coordinator/QBs Coach. He later joined the high school ranks as Offensive Coordinator/QBs coach at Second Baptist School and Lamar Consolidated High School beforing serving one year as Offensive Coordinator/QBs coach at Prairie View A&M University. Afterwards, Hollas coached at South Houston High School and Fort Bend Baptist Academy as Offensive Coordinator/QBs coach.
"Talent accumulation is our top priority. Along with this premise, establishing a winning mentality is also paramount.” Also among Hollas’ agenda, will be to instill pride and discipline. “Establishing a mentality of what is expected from the organizational philosophy is top priority. Our community deserves and demands nothing less.”
As Hollas notes, “the Houston-area has a proud professional sports tradition. We will establish a standard based on discipline. Houston demands that standard. The rich traditions of successful Houston-area sports teams will continue with this franchise. We look forward to sharing this experience with Houston.”
