Soul Soar With Big Expectations in 2016

(photo credit: phillyvoice.com)

Last season came to an abrupt end for the Philadelphia Soul. They made it all the way to the American Conference Championship game, where they played the Jacksonville Sharks. The Sharks had come all the way down from a 1-5 record to be able to reach the conference championship game. The Sharks went into Vorhees, NJ and were able to pull off the upset, ending the Soul's season.

In 2016, the Soul will be one of eight teams playing in the Arena Football League after the folding of the defending champion San Jose Sabercats. The Soul finished the 2015 season with a 15-3 record, the best record in franchise history and one of the best in league history.

In 2016, the Soul will have a few new coaches alongside head coach Clint Dolezel and assistant head coach Phil Bogle. Bernie Nowotarski as joined the team as their defensive backs coach after former DB coach Derek Stingley resigned. He brings 10 years of arena football experience with him. He won two championships while in the Indoor Football League, American Indoor Football Association,and American Indoor Football. He was also named coach of the year in 2009 and 2013, when he won the two championships.

Criswell brings nine years of arena football experience to the Soul himself, eight of which he led his teams to the postseason, including an Indoor Football League record 13-2 season with the then inaugural Richmond Revolution in 2009.

The Soul's journey to Arena Bowl XXIX begins on April 1, when the team travels to Cleveland to take on the Gladiators. In Week 2, the Soul will host the Sharks in a rematch of the American Conference Championship on April 11. The game against Jacksonville is the first of a three-game homestand. The other two games will be against the Gladiators and the Portland Steel.

After a game in Los Angeles against the KISS, the Soul host the Tampa Bay Storm, Arizona Rattlers and Orlando Predators in another three-game homestand. Six of their final eight games are played on the road, including the final two games in Florida against the Sharks and the Predators. The Soul will look to redeem themselves and reach Arena Bowl XXIX and win their first championship since 2008.