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Sioux Falls Storm

Indoor American football team


Summary

Indoor American football team

FieldValue
nameSioux Falls Storm
current2024 Indoor Football League season
logoSioux_Falls_Storm_Logo.svg
founded2000
(dormant as of October 30, 2024)
cityDenny Sanford Premier Center
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
miscSiouxFallsStorm.com
colorsNavy blue, red, white
coachAndre Fields
ownerDavid & Stephanie Richter
Patrick & Amber Garry
presidentAmber Garry
mascotBlitz
cheerleadersLightning Girls
no_league_champs12
no_conf_champs12
no_div_champs12
no_playoff_appearances20

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Patrick & Amber Garry Indoor Football League (2000)

  • Western Conference (2000)
    • Northern Division (2000) National Indoor Football League (20012004)
  • Pacific Conference (2001–2004)
    • Central Division (2001)
    • Western Division (2002–2003)
    • Northern Division (2004) United Indoor Football (20052008)
  • Northern Division (2005)
  • Western Division (2006–2008) Indoor Football League (; –future)
  • United Conference (2009–2017)
    • Central Division (2009)
    • Central West Division (2010)
    • Great Plains Division (2011)
  • Eastern Conference (2022–2024)
  • Sioux Falls Cobras (2000)
  • Sioux Falls Storm (2001–2024)
  • United Bowl championships (4) 2005 (I), 2006 (II), 2007 (III), 2008 (IV)
  • National Indoor Bowl championships (1) 2008
  • United Bowl/IFL National championships (7) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019
  • NIFL Pacific: 2004
  • UIF Western: 2007, 2008
  • IFL United: , , , , , , ,
  • IFL Eastern:
  • NIFL Northern: 2004
  • UIF Western: 2006, 2007, 2008
  • IFL Central West:
  • IFL Great Plains:
  • IFL United: , , , , ,
  • NIFL: 2001, 2003, 2004
  • UIF: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
  • IFL: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
  • Sioux Falls Arena (2000–2014)
  • Denny Sanford Premier Center (2015–2024)

The Sioux Falls Storm are a dormant professional indoor football team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Storm joined the original Indoor Football League as an expansion team in 1999 as the Sioux Falls Cobras, and first took the field for the 2000 season. They currently participate in another iteration of the Indoor Football League; prior to that, the Storm were in United Indoor Football (UIF), where they won all four of the league's championship games. In the newer IFL, the Storm have won seven of the eleven championships in the league as of 2019.

They recently played their home games at Denny Sanford Premier Center up until 2024 due to a leasing dispute between the team and the arena. The lease was not renewed, and the Storm entered dormancy for the 2025 season. In mid-April 2014, the team announced that the 2014 season would be its last at the aging Sioux Falls Arena (also known as the Storm Shelter), originally constructed in 1961. In 2015, the Storm followed the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League to the newly constructed Denny Sanford Premier Center.

History

1999–2000: Founding

1999: Original IFL expansion

The team was founded in 1999 as an expansion team in the original Indoor Football League (IFL) as the Sioux Falls Cobras.

2000: First season

The Cobras would win their first game when they defeated the Sioux City Attack, 44–30. In their inaugural season, the Cobras finished with an 8–6 record and fourth in the Southern Division.

2001–2002: Aldrich era

2001: Name change and first playoff appearance

After one season in the IFL, they became members of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) and changed their name to the Sioux Falls Storm.

2002: Aldrich's final season

2003–2023: Riggs era

2003–04: Final NIFL seasons

The Storm hosted the 2004 NIFL championship game against the Lexington Horsemen in the Storm Shelter in front of a sellout crowd. The Horsemen won the championship game, but the Storm defeated the Horsemen a year later in the second round of the 2005 UIF playoffs in Lexington.

2005–08: UIF United Bowl winning streak

The Sioux Falls Storm were charter members of United Indoor Football (UIF) in 2005 and were the first UIF champions with a win over the Sioux City Bandits, 40–38 at Sioux City. Sioux Falls won its second consecutive UIF championship in 2006 at their home ground, the Arena, defeating the Lexington Horseman 72–64 on July 29, 2006. Quarterback Terrance Bryant was named United Bowl II MVP after throwing eight touchdowns in the match. Defensive end Nate Fluit recorded 16.5 sacks in 2005 and 15.5 in 2006.

Sioux Falls became one of the few teams in indoor football history to post a shutout, beating the Peoria Rough Riders 71–0 on June 3, 2006.

On Saturday, August 4, 2007, the Storm defeated the Lexington Horsemen for the second United Bowl in a row, 62 to 59. With 19 seconds left to go in the game Storm quarterback Terrance Bryant threw up a prayer, and though protested by the small crowd of Horsemen fans, it was ruled a touchdown pass. With three seconds left in the game, and with the help of a frantic fan going for the game ball, the Horsemen gained 15 yards for a chance to kick a field goal and tie the game, but the kick was missed by Horsemen kicker Collin Barber.

On March 29, 2008, the Storm lost to the Omaha Beef 34–18, ending their historic 40-game winning streak and giving them their first loss since July 15, 2005. They went on to win their fourth United Bowl later that season against the Bloomington Extreme.

2009–10: Early IFL success and insurance violation

On April 25, 2009, after switching to the Indoor Football League, the Storm were found in violation of the IFL's rule of not complying with regulations related to workers compensation coverage. As punishment, the team's first five wins of the 2009 season were forfeited; this resulted in a 6–8 season, the first losing season in team history. The other three losses all came to the Billings Outlaws. In 2010, the Storm rebounded to reach the United Bowl before losing 43–34 to the Outlaws.

2011–16: IFL United Bowl winning streak

After a tornado dubbed the Father's Day Tornado hit Billings' Rimrock Auto Arena on June 20, 2010, causing major damage, the Outlaws franchise folded, and their star quarterback Chris Dixon signed with the Storm. Led by Dixon, Sioux Falls scored an astounding 1022 points on the 2011 regular season, with 70 or more points in 10 games and opening with a 105–71 win over the Kent Predators in Kent, Washington. Only twice did the Storm fall short of 50 points and both were against the Omaha Beef, who handed them a 41–37 loss in the regular season finale after Sioux Falls had started 13–0. The two teams met in the next game, which was the playoff opener. The Storm won it, 52–39, then beat Green Bay 52–12 to return to the United Bowl. Although they tied their lowest scoring game of the season, Sioux Falls rolled over the Tri-Cities Fever 37–10 to earn the league championship after a two-year hiatus and also win its first IFL title. Dixon and the Storm dominated again in 2012, this time with a perfect 14–0 record and 941 points in the regular season. On April 14, the Storm beat the Allen Wranglers, then featuring former NFL standout receiver Terrell Owens, 52–45 on the road in Allen, Texas. Dixon threw his 500th career touchdown pass, when he hit James Terry with a 42-yard pass during a May 19 game against the Blizzard. Sioux Falls defeated the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks 79–21 in the playoff opener, then again beat Green Bay in the semifinal and Tri-Cities (this time winning 59–32) in the United Bowl.

Dixon then left, attempting to make it with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. Sioux Falls did not suffer greatly in 2013 as Storm legend Terrance Bryant returned to play quarterback. Following a 10–4 season, the Storm again prevailed in the playoffs and defeated the Nebraska Danger by a close 43–40 score for the title. Bryant then retired again, as on January 6, 2014, it was announced that Dixon would be returning to the Storm, citing his desire to graduate from Augustana College and be close to his family. Dixon did not disappoint, leading the Storm to their eighth title in 2014. The Storm again defeated Nebraska in the United Bowl by a 63–46 score. The Sioux Falls Storm completed its era at the Sioux Falls Arena with a 112–14 home record including 82-3 from 2006 to 2014.

In 2015, the Storm's first season at the Denny Sanford Premier Center was very successful, completing another undefeated season at 16-0 overall, and was capped off with winning their ninth league championship by a score of 62–27 over the Danger.

In 2016, the Storm continued their dominance. But lost their first game since the 2014 season as they lost at the Cedar Rapids Titans, 60–57. But despite that setback, they capped off another successful season with a win over the newly minted Spokane Empire, 55–34, to capture their tenth championship overall and their sixth IFL Championship and sixth in a row.

2017–19: Continued IFL United Bowl appearance streak

They returned to the championship game in 2017, but lost for the first time since the 2010 season to the Arizona Rattlers.

Prior to the 2018 season, the Storm announced they would join Champions Indoor Football (CIF) on August 30, 2017, in order to have smaller travel budget and reignite rivalries with the nearby Sioux City Bandits and Omaha Beef. However, after the IFL's offseason meetings, the Storm re-joined the IFL on October 4.

2020–23: Franchise struggles

2024–2025: Fields era

2024: Franchise's worst season

2025: Dormancy

On October 30, 2024, the Storm announced that they had been evicted from Denny Sanford Premier Center after its owners had refused to offer a lease renewal. In a statement to KELO-TV, a representative for the Center noted that the arena would have to increase the team's rent to cover its own expenses and that, because the team's attendance had been on a downward trend, it would not have been fiscally feasible for either party to continue. The Storm stated they had explored other arena options but chose to suspend operations for 2025 with the hope that it would afford the team more time to negotiate an arena deal for the team's planned return in 2026.

Players

Retired numbers

PlayerPositionSeasonsRef.
5Terrance BryantQB2005–2010, 2013
7Casey VeenhofWR/QB2003–2007
10Shannon PoppingaS2001–2009url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4196896title=Storm to Honor Hicks and Poppingadate=May 4, 2011publisher=OurSports Centralwork=www.oursportscentral.comaccess-date=March 31, 2014}}
14Mark BlackburnLB/S2003–2010
17Bobby PerkinsCB2001–2004
21Corey WalkerWR2001–2006
25Adam HicksK2003–2008
46Donnie HilsenrothLB2001–2003
93Nate FluitDE2003–2007
21Andre FieldsDB2003-2009
96Cory JohnsenNT2006-2015

Awards and honors

Sioux Falls Storm Awards and Honors

Notable Sioux Falls alumni

Sioux Falls alumni

Head coaches

CoachTotalRegular seasonPostseasonTitlesWonLostPCTHomeAwayWonLostPCTHomeAwayWonLostPCTHomeAwayDIVCONFCHAMPMike Aldrich2001–2002Josh Siegfried2012Kurtiss Riggs*2003–2023Andre Fields2024
1614(9–5)(7–9)1513(9–5)(6–8)11(0–0)(1–1)000
20(2–0)(0–0)00(0–0)(0–0)20(2-–)(0–0)000
26567(156–22)(109–45)23060(127–20)(103–40)357(28–2)(7–5)121611
313(2–5)(1–8)313(2–5)(1–8)00(0-0)(0–0)000
  • Records do not reflect the five forfeits due to insurance violations in 2009.

Also see: List of National Football League head coaches with 200 wins

Season-by-season results

League championsConference championsDivision championsPlayoff berthLeague leader
SeasonTeamLeagueConferenceDivisionRegular seasonPostseason resultsFinishWinsLossesTies2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024Totals256960All-time regular season record (2000–2024)2941040All-time regular season and postseason record (2000–2024)
Florida Bobcatsborder=2}};"Sioux Falls Cobras
IFLWesternSouthern4th860
Sioux Falls Stormborder=2}};"Sioux Falls Storm
NIFLCentral3rd770Won Round 1, 40–25 (R.C. Red Dogs)
Lost Semifinal, 31–37 (Wyoming)
NIFLPacificWestern3rd860
NIFLPacificWestern2nd1040Lost Round 1, 55–68 (Utah)
NIFLPacificNorthern1st1130Won Conference Semifinal, 65–41 (Utah)
Won Conference Championship, 44–13 (Billings)
Lost Indoor Bowl IV, 38–59 (Lexington)
UIFNorthern3rd880Won Round 1, 51–41 (Omaha)
Won Semifinal, 62–58 (Lexington)
Won United Bowl I, 40–38 (Sioux City)
UIFWestern1st1500Won Semifinal, 32–26 (Evansville)
Won United Bowl II, 72–64 (Lexington)
UIFWestern1st1500Won Round 1, 44–16 (Colorado)
Won Division Championship, 45–23 (Billings)
Won United Bowl III, 62–59 (Lexington)
UIFWestern1st1130Won Division Championship, 46–44 (Billings)
Won United Bowl IV, 40–35 (Bloomington)
Won National Indoor Bowl I, 54–42 (Louisiana)
IFLUnitedCentral4th1130
2010IFLUnitedCentral West1st1130Won Round 1, 42–23 (Omaha)
Won Conference Semifinal, 47–33 (Chicago)
Won Conference Championship, 52–34 (Wichita)
Lost 2010 United Bowl, 34–43 (Billings)
2011IFLUnitedGreat Plains1st1310Won Conference Semifinal, 52–39 (Omaha)
Won Conference Championship, 52–12 (Green Bay)
Won 2011 United Bowl, 37–10 (Tri-Cities)
2012IFLUnited1st1400Won Conference Semifinal, 79–21 (Lehigh Valley)
Won Conference Championship, 61–42 (Green Bay)
Won 2012 United Bowl, 59–32 (Tri-Cities)
2013IFLUnited1st1040Won Conference Championship, 44–20 (Cedar Rapids)
Won 2013 United Bowl, 43–40 (Nebraska)
2014IFLUnited1st1310Won Conference Championship, 73–36 (Cedar Rapids)
Won 2014 United Bowl, 63–46 (Nebraska)
2015IFLUnited1st1400Won Conference Championship, 34–12 (Cedar Rapids)
Won 2015 United Bowl, 62–27 (Nebraska)
2016IFLUnited1st1510Won Conference Championship, 54–28 (Cedar Rapids)
Won 2016 United Bowl, 55–34 (Spokane)
2017IFLUnited1st1420Won United Conference Championship, 66–32 (Iowa)
Lost 2017 United Bowl, 41–50 (Arizona)
2018IFL3rd1130Won Semifinal 69–68 OT (Arizona)
Lost 2018 United Bowl 42–38 (Iowa)
IFL3rd1130Won First Round 50–47 (Tucson)
Won Semifinal 52–50 (Iowa)
Won 2019 United Bowl 56–53 (Arizona)
IFLSeason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
IFL8th670Lost First Round (Arizona) 42–69
IFLEastern5th880
IFLEastern2nd960Won First Round (Massachusetts) 42–39
Won Eastern Conference Championship (Frisco) 45–44
Lost 2023 United Bowl (Bay Area) 41–51
IFLEastern8th3130
388All-time postseason record (2000–2024)

Records vs. opponent

    • win forfeited to a loss for insurance violation
Wyoming Cavalry(11–3)(5–1)(6–2)(0–1)

Season schedules (2001–2018)

2001

WLPCTDIV
y-Rapid City Red Dogs1310.929
x-Wyoming Cavalry850.571
x-Sioux Falls Storm770.500
Billings Outlaws770.500
Tri-City Diesel680.429
Sioux City Bandits4100.286

2001 National Indoor Football League Season Summary

July 26@ Wyoming CavalryLost 37–31

2002

WLPCTDIV
y-Bismarck Roughriders1130.786
x-Billings Outlaws1040.714
Sioux Falls Storm860.571
Rapid City Red Dogs680.429
Wyoming Cavalry3110.214

2002 National Indoor Football League Season Summary

June 29Rapid City Red DogsWon 45–17

2003

WLPCTDIV
y-Utah Warriors1130.786
x-Sioux Falls Storm1040.714
x-Bismarck Roughriders950.643
Rapid City Red Dogs770.500
Billings Outlaws680.429
Wyoming Cavalry4100.286

2003 National Indoor Football League Season Summary

July 12@ Utah WarriorsLost 68–55

2004

WLPCTPFPADIV
y-Sioux Falls Storm1130.786685467
x-Omaha Beef950.600600524
x-Sioux City Bandits860.571577552
Lincoln Capitols3110.214408587

2004 National Indoor Football League Season Summary

August 7Lexington HorsemenLost 59–38

2005

WLPCTDIV
y-Sioux City Bandits1320.866
x-Omaha Beef960.600
x-Sioux Falls Storm880.500
Black Hills Red Dogs1140.066

2005 United Indoor Football Season Summary

August 14@ Sioux City BanditsWon 40–38

2006

WLPCTPFPADIV
y-Sioux Falls Storm1501.000684384
x-Omaha Beef870.533594498
Sioux City Bandits690.400508513

2006 United Indoor Football Season Summary

July 29Lexington HorsemenWon 72–64

2007

WLPCTPFPACONF
y-Sioux Falls Storm1501.000739366
x-Billings Outlaws860.571565511
x-Omaha Beef870.533489504
x-Colorado Ice690.400457529
Sioux City Bandits3120.200434654

2007 United Indoor Football Season Summary

August 4Lexington HorsemenWon 62–59

2008

WLPCTPFPACONF
y-Sioux Falls Storm113.786631471
x-Billings Outlaws1040.714725497
x-Omaha Beef1040.714589463
Colorado Ice680.429528568

2008 United Indoor Football Season Summary

August 2Louisiana SwashbucklersWon 54–42

2009

WLPCTPFPADIV
y-Omaha Beef1130.786704649
x-Bloomington Extreme1040.714614398
x-Wichita Wild860.571632513
*Sioux Falls Storm68.429712455
Sioux City Bandits4100.286450645

2009 Indoor Football League Season Summary

July 11Sioux City BanditsWon 54–31

Forfeited due to insurance violation

2010–2018

Team player records

Single season

As of the end of the 2022 season

  • Pass Attempts: Ryan Aulenbacher, 401 (2002 – 14 games)
  • Completions: Chris Dixon, 268 (2012 – 14 games)
  • Passing Yards: Chris Dixon, 3,321 (2012 – 14 games)
  • Passing Touchdowns: Chris Dixon, 74 (2011 – 14 games)
  • Carries: Sean Treasure, 201 (2009 – 14 games)
  • Rushing Yards: Sean Treasure, 812 (2009 – 14 games)
  • Rushing Touchdowns: Marques Smith, 32 (2007 – 15 games)
  • Receptions: James Terry, 94 (2010 – 14 games)
  • Receiving Yards: Carl Sims, 1,108 (2012 – 14 games)
  • Receiving Touchdowns: Clinton Solomon, 27 (2012 – 14 games)
  • Kick Return Yards: James Jones, 1,350 (2005 – 16 games)
  • Kick Return Touchdowns: Korey Williams, 5 (2016 – 16 games)
  • Missed Field Goal Return Yards: Shannon Poppinga, 237 (2008 – 14 games)
  • Missed Field Goal Return Touchdowns: Shannon Poppinga, 2 (2008 – 14 games)
  • Field Goal Percentage (Minimum: 20 Attempts): Miles Bergner, 64.7% (2018 – 14 games)
  • PAT Percentage (Minimum: 30 Attempts): Parker Douglass, 95.7% (2011 – 14 games)
  • Total Yards: James Jones, 2,198 (2005 – 16 games)
  • Total Touchdowns: Korey Williams, 34 (2016 – 16 games)
  • Field Goals: Parker Douglass, 27 (2013 – 14 games)
  • PATs: Parker Douglass, 134 (2011 – 14 games)
  • Total Points: Korey Williams, 204 (2016 – 16 games)
  • Tackles: Tyler Knight, 140.5 (2016 – 16 games)
  • Tackles for Loss: Brandon Peguese, 25.5 (2016 – 16 games)
  • Sacks: Nate Fluit, 18.0 (2006 – 15 games)
  • Interceptions: Shannon Poppinga, 10 (2005 – 16 games)
  • Pass Breakups: Bobby Perkins, 20 (2002 – 14 games)
  • Blocked Kicks: Nate Fluit, 10 (2006 – 15 games)

Career records

As of the end of the 2024 season and does not include the postseason

  • Pass Attempts: Terrance Bryant, 2,268
  • Completions: Terrance Bryant, 1,491
  • Passing Yards: Terrance Bryant, 15,011
  • Passing Touchdowns: Lorenzo Brown, 284
  • Carries: Lorenzo Brown, 1,090
  • Rushing Yards: Lorenzo Brown, 4,288
  • Rushing Touchdowns: Lorenzo Brown, 163
  • Receptions: James Terry, 607
  • Reception Yards: James Terry, 6,601
  • Reception Touchdowns: James Terry, 145
  • Total Yards: James Terry, 8,417
  • Field Goals: Adam Hicks, 131
  • FG % (Minimum: 20 Attempts): Miles Bergner, 66.0%
  • PATs: Parker Douglass, 584
  • PAT % (Minimum: 35 Attempts): Sawyer Petre, 90.1%
  • Kick Return Yards: James Jones, 2,469
  • Kick Return Touchdowns: Korey Williams, 9
  • Missed Field Goal Return Yards: Shannon Poppinga, 416
  • Missed Field Goal Return Touchdowns: Shannon Poppinga, 3
  • Total Touchdowns: Lorenzo Brown, 182
  • Total Points: Lorenzo Brown, 1,096
  • Tackles: Mark Blackburn, 715.5
  • Tackles for Loss: Rachman Crable, 73.0
  • Sacks: Cory Johnsen, 64.5
  • Interceptions: Shannon Poppinga, 46
  • Interception Touchdowns: Shannon Poppinga, 6
  • Pass Breakups: Shannon Poppinga, 109
  • Forced Fumbles: Rachman Crable/Cory Johnsen/Tyler Knight, 10
  • Blocked Kicks: Tyler Knight, 24

References

References

  1. "IFL Teams". Indoor Football League.
  2. (April 4, 2000). "Sioux Falls Cobras win IFL opener". KELO-TV.
  3. Zimmer, Matt. (April 20, 2014). "Sharing home game dates was new for the Stampede and Skyforce – the crowds still came". [[Argus Leader]].
  4. (April 25, 2009). "IFL Nullifies Storm's First Five Wins". KELO-TV.
  5. Gazette Staff. "Tornado destroys MetraPark arena, Heights stores". The Billings Gazette.
  6. Ryan Minch. (May 30, 2012). "Dixon etches name in record books with 500th career TD pass". Billings Gazette.
  7. (January 6, 2014). "Quarterback Chris Dixon returning to Storm". [[Argus Leader]].
  8. Matt Zimmer. (June 29, 2014). "Storm win eighth title, closing door on Arena chapter". Argus Leader.
  9. "Storm Rout Danger In United Bowl".
  10. (August 30, 2017). "Storm Announce Move to CIF". [[Champions Indoor Football]].
  11. (October 4, 2017). "LETTER FROM TODD TRYON". Sioux Falls Storm.
  12. Sweeter, Grant. (October 30, 2024). "No place to play: Sioux Falls Storm pauses operation for 2025".
  13. (June 21, 2012). "Sioux Falls Storm Retires #5". KELO-TV.
  14. (May 4, 2011). "Storm to Honor Hicks and Poppinga". OurSports Central.
  15. "Danger at Storm Game Preview". Indoor Football League.
  16. (June 7, 2006). "Former Mustang Corey Walker to have Jersey Retired by Sioux Falls Storm". Southwest Minnesota State University.
  17. (December 17, 2010). "Former Storm Linebacker Continues to Excel". OurSports Central.
  18. "2000 Schedule".
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