Soul to promote assistant Dolezel to head coach

THE SOUL will promote Clint Dolezel to head coach, according to an Arena Football League source. He will replace Doug Plank, who resigned last week.

Dolezel was the offensive coordinator/assistant head coach this season and guided a record-setting offense that struck a nice balance between quarterback Dan Raudabaugh's effective passing and Derrick Ross' bruising running.

The defense was run by Plank, who stepped down for family reasons following the Soul's 15-3 season, which culminated in a loss to Arizona in the ArenaBowl. There is no indication yet on whom Dolezel will tab to guide the defense or whether he intends to retain assistants Leroy Thompson, Darrin Kenney and Adriel Fenton.

Keeping Dolezel is the most logical choice and gives the Soul a leg up on retaining many of its core players. Raudabaugh, Ross, wide receiver Tiger Jones (now in Eagles training camp) and a number of others spent time in Dallas when Dolezel was the head coach there in 2011. Dolezel, 42, is a former AFL quarterback who recently was elected to the league's Hall of Fame.

- Ed Barkowitz