Ken Whisenhunt was hired as head coach of the Memphis Showboats after a robust hiring competition.
With the Monday morning news of the United Football League naming Ken Whisenhunt as the new head coach of the Showboats, Memphis football fans suddenly had something to be excited about. After suffering a losing season in 2024, Showboats fans can now peg their hopes on new team management that includes Whisenhunt, an NFL veteran, and Jim Monos as the team’s new general manager.
On Tuesday, UFL Executive Vice President for Football Operations Daryl Johnston remarked how the league had undertaken a lengthy competition process to fill the head coach role that was recently vacated by John DeFilippo.
The process included steps designed to create opportunities for people within the UFL family.
“We had an internal list, and then we had an external list,” Johnson explained. “I would say once we took all the people that had expressed an interest, we were probably somewhere around twelve (candidates), and then we pared that one down and got it down to our top three internal, our top three external, and then took them through the interview process.”
Johnson pointed out that he and UFL President/CEO Russ Brandon were excited by the quality of personnel they had in the pool of internal candidates.
“They’re very comfortable in the spring environment, and how that works,” Johnson said. “To listen to them on how they were going to build it, being respectful of a team that they could leave, and kind of balancing what their staff would look like at that point. It was really fun for us to get the opportunity to see them in that position and have spoken to all of them. They were thankful for the opportunity, because they learned a lot from it as well.”
Johnston explained how the process also provided validation for the league when the external candidates were considered.
“The names that we had on that list that were interested in becoming a part of this goes back to what we’ve talked about here the last couple of seasons,” Johnston explained. “In year one in the USFL, we were having to call agents and players and really solicit their belief in what we were trying to build, and coerce them into allowing their players to come join us. Year two got a little bit better. Then, going into the merger last year, we had agents calling us.”
“We’re going through that same process now with our coaches,” Johnston said. “We’re getting head coaching candidates that are reaching out. We’re getting people that want to be part of the assistant coaching staffs. They’ve seen what we’ve built, they’ve seen the quality of football, and they would love to be a part of that.”
When he volunteered his services to the UFL, Whisenhunt expressed eagerness to join the United Football League and be involved with the development of players.
“One of the things I think that’s been missing from what I’ve done for so long in pro football, is an ability to develop younger players, to get them ready,” Whisenhunt said. “It’s just so hard to do that, and I’ve been so intrigued by how that’s being done. I really respect the way that they’ve done this with the UFL, and I’m excited to do that.”
Whisenhunt has an extensive coaching background, including two stints as a head coach in the National Football League and a Super Bowl Championship as offensive coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, it seems, the UFL will provide the veteran coach with a unique opportunity.
“I’m truly excited about this opportunity,” Whisenhunt said. “I have been watching these leagues over the past few years and I’m amazed at how things have grown and advanced. I’m looking forward to working with these young men. I know how important it is for them to have the opportunity to play professional football and have the possibility of getting to the NFL or back to the NFL.”
Lastly, Whisenhunt explained how he and general manager Jim Monos would soon begin the work of building the Showboats 2025 squad. Whisenhunt also remarked how the job of filling in the ranks of coaches and assistant coaches would begin soon.
Memphis fans will soon have the opportunity to gaze upon a reborn Showboats team, as they hit the field for the 2025 UFL season.
