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Ernesto PurnsleyHead Coach The Utah Blaze will kickoff their fourth season in the Arena Football League with head coach and defensive coordinator ERNESTO PURNSLEY. The veteran AFL League assistant coach enters his 11th season in the AFL, where he previously coached with the Chicago Rush and spent five years as the defensive coordinator for the Colorado Crush. Prior to his time in Colorado, he had two stints with the Albany/Indiana Firebirds. Purnsley spent five seasons (2004-2008) as the defensive coordinator with the Colorado Crush, who won ArenaBowl XIX in 2005. During his tenure, his defense established team records for sacks, interceptions and scoring defense. Purnsley began his career in the AFL in 1997 when he was hired as the special teams and fullback/linebackers coach for the Albany Firebirds. After two seasons (1997-98) with Albany, he spent two years at Murray State before returning to the Firebirds for three seasons (2000-2003). Prior to coaching in the AFL, Purnsley began his collegiate coaching career at Concord College in Athens, W. Va., where he served as the wide receivers and defensive backs coach for two years (1992-93). The following two years (1994-1996) he coached the cornerbacks and tight ends at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill. Collegiately, Purnsley was a four-year starter at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. (1986-89). He began his career as a quarterback prior to moving to a wide receiver as a junior. His senior year he was named First Team All-South Atlantic Conference. Purnsley graduated with his bachelors degree in physical education in 1990. Given his nickname of Netto as a child because his name was too hard to pronounce, he grew up in North Carolina as a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and cites his mother as his biggest influence. Purnsley was a 1985 graduate of Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, N.C., where he participated in football and basketball. He and his wife, Meg, have a daughter, Elise. Coaching Timeline
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