Jacksonville Sharks

History

Arena Football League (2010–2016)

The Arena Football League originally wanted to place a franchise in Jacksonville in the 1990s, citing the city's historical support for football. The proposal drew the attention of Wayne Weaver, then owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the league decided that the Jacksonville Coliseum was too small for AFL standards.

Interest in placing an arena football team in Jacksonville remained. In 2010, following the restructuring of the AFL and the cancellation of the 2009 season, the AFL announced it would place an expansion team in Jacksonville. The ownership group would be Jacksonville Sports Group, led by Jeff Bouchy, formerly part owner of the Orlando Predators AFL team under his brother Brett Bouchy. On May 3, 2014, it was officially announced that former Mötley Crüe front man Vince Neil purchased a minority stake in the team.

National Arena League (2017–2023)

On October 12, 2016, the Sharks announced that they were leaving the AFL for a rival league beginning with the 2017 season. The Sharks were rejected from their first choice of league, the Indoor Football League (which itself is the home of several former AFL franchises), as the IFL was focused on a regional footprint that did not include Florida.

On November 18, 2016, Sharks owner Jeff Bouchy announced the team has joined the newly formed National Arena League (NAL). He also announced the hiring for former Toronto Phantoms head coach Mark Stoute as their second head coach in franchise history, replacing interim head coach Bob Landsee. After going undefeated through eight games, Stoute was fired. Siaha Burley was immediately hired as his replacement after serving as the offensive coordinator of the AFL's Cleveland Gladiators. The Sharks nearly went undefeated throughout their inaugural NAL season before losing their home finale against the Monterrey Steel 44–37. They avenged the loss by beating the Steel one week later in the playoff semifinal 43–32 to advance to the championship game. The Sharks won the inaugural NAL championship game 27–21 over the Columbus Lions.

In 2018, the Jacksonville Sharks went 10–7 under returning head coach Burley. The Sharks advanced to the National Arena League playoffs, but lost on the road to the Carolina Cobras 73–48. The Cobras won the 2018 championship over the Columbus Lions. Following the season, operating manager and majority owner Jeff Bouchy resigned and sold his interest in the team to the other owners on March 11, 2019. The Sharks added another minority owner in Nick Furris on April 26, 2019. The Sharks finished the 2019 season with a 13–1 record and won the league championship.

After the 2019 season, the Sharks did not come to terms with head coach Burley on a contract extension and replaced him with former Maine Mammoths head coach James Fuller. The 2020 season was then cancelled due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the league returned in the delayed and shortened 2021 season, Fuller led the team to a 2–6 record and the Sharks missed the playoffs for the first time since joining the NAL. Burley was re-hired as head coach for the 2022 season.

The Sharks won the league championship in the 2023 season.

Indoor Football League (2024–present)

On August 22, 2023, the Sharks announced they were joining the Indoor Football League (IFL) beginning with the 2024 season.

Arena

Since 2010, the Sharks' home arena has been VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, a $130 million facility opened in 2003. Capacity for arena football games is 13,011.

Notable players

Individual awards

All-Arena players

The following Sharks players have been named to All-Arena Teams:

• QB Aaron Garcia (1)
• FB Derrick Ross (1)
• WR Jeron Harvey (1), Tiger Jones (1), Joe Hills (2)
• OL Randy Degg (1), Moqut Ruffins (1), Cornelius Lewis (1)
• DL Derrick Summers (1), Scooter Berry (1), Jerry Turner (1), Joe Sykes (1)
• LB Aaron Robbins (2), Alvin Ray Jackson (1), Dexter Jackson (1)
• DB Micheaux Robinson (2), Terrance Smith (1), Greg Reid (2)

All-Ironman players

The following Sharks players have been named to All-Ironman Teams:

• WR/KR Jeff Hughley (1)
• WR/DB Terrance Smith (1)

All-NAL players

The following Sharks players have been named to All-NAL Teams:

• RB Derrick Ross (1)
• WR Moe Williams (1)
• OT Cornelius Lewis (1), Moqut Ruffins (1)
• C A. J. Harmon (1)
• DL Jeremiah Price (1), Daylou Pierson (1)
• LB Charles Hunt (1)
• DB Erick McIntosh (1), Marvin Ross (1), Micheaux Robinson (1)
• K Nick Belcher (1),

Notable coaches

Head coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the 2022 National Arena League season.

Season-by-season results

Main article: List of Jacksonville Sharks seasons

References

References

1. "Ownership". Jacksonville Sharks.
2. Don Coble. (August 12, 2011). "Sharks win ArenaBowl on final play". [[The Florida Times-Union]].
3. Don Coble. (August 16, 2011). "Jacksonville to celebrate Sharks' championship with a parade". [[The Florida Times-Union]].
4. (May 25, 1998). "New arena considered for football". [[The Florida Times-Union]].
5. Jeff Walker. (November 13, 2002). "Tomcats fold". [[The Florida Times-Union]].
6. Jeff Elliott. (November 18, 2009). "Jacksonville arena football team hoping for a bang". [[The Florida Times-Union]].
7. (October 12, 2016). "SHARKS MOVING TO RIVAL LEAGUE". Jacksonville Sharks.
8. Coble, Don. "Jacksonville Sharks to create new league".
9. (May 23, 2017). "STOUTE OUT AS HEAD COACH". Jacksonville Sharks.
10. (May 23, 2017). "SIAHA BURLEY NAMED SHARKS HEAD COACH". Jacksonville Sharks.
11. (March 11, 2019). "Jeffrey Bouchy Facebook post March 11, 2019".
12. (April 26, 2019). "Nick Furris Joins Sharks Ownership". Jacksonville Sharks }}{{Dead link.
13. (September 18, 2019). "Sharks Name James Fuller Head Coach".
14. (October 6, 2021). "SHARKS HIRE TWO-TIME NAL CHAMPION COACH".
15. (August 22, 2023). "SHARKS JOIN IFL FOR 2024 SEASON".