By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com
The Muskegon-based professional indoor football team now has a name fans can recognize, thanks to the community’s vote.
It also has a head coach – former Orchard View standout Tyrese Lynk.
The team, known as the “West Michigan Ironmen,’ will play its first season in the American Indoor Football League at the L.C. Walker Arena starting in March.
The name “Ironmen” was nominated by Muskegon Mayor Stephen Gowron, and is a tribute to Muskegon’s rich history of industry, including the tough and proud grey iron foundry workers, according to the team.
The Ironmen will play a 10-game schedule to be released in late November, with six played at home.
Meanwhile Lynk, an Orchard View graduate and Western Michigan University two-sport athlete, has been named head coach of the Ironmen.
“My goal is to put a product on the field that will be very competitive and families can come out and see a great football team.” said Lynk. “Muskegon is a great city and the L.C. Walker arena is a great venue and I’m excited to return to my roots.”
Lynk has been an assistant coach at Kalamazoo College since the summer of 2009. He resides in Kalamazoo with his wife Kelly and their three children Justin, Jessica and Jillian.
“I’ve worked with him through our Muskegon All-Star Classic and have known him for a while,” said Ironmen Owner T.J. Williams. “We have heard great things about him and love that he has a connection with the community of Muskegon.”
