The Tucson Sugar Skulls made a splash, landing one of the winningest coaches in Indoor Football in the past decade.
(Tucson, AZ) The Tucson Sugar Skulls have hired five-time champion Billy Back as their head coach for the 2024 season.
Back led the Frisco Fighters to the best record in the Indoor Football League for the second consecutive season last year. Under his guidance, the Fighters were near the top of the league in points scored and points allowed. The Fighters were also number one in yards given up per game. They had the top rushing offense in the league and sported the best run defense in the IFL under coach Back.
The Sugar Skulls’ previous head coach Hurtis Chinn resigned for personal matters, ending his two-year run with the team. It was his first year as head coach after serving as the Offensive Coordinator in 2022.
Sugar Skulls owner Cathy Guy stated: “We are thrilled to bring in a coach of Billy Back’s pedigree, as he has a history of winning. We feel that this is a great fit for Billy at this stage in his career, as well as for the Sugar Skulls and the Tucson community. As an organization, we are always committed to hiring the best coach to put us in a position to compete for a Championship. We’re very excited for this next chapter of Sugar Skulls football.”
Billy Back stated: “I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity to work with Cathy Guy and the Tucson Sugar Skulls organization. I’m looking forward to getting to work with the Tucson community and building something special. Our main objective going forward is to protect the Boneyard, winning in front of our fans and putting ourselves in a position to compete for a championship.”
Back joined Frisco in 2022 after leading the Spokane Shock to the 2021 IFL Playoffs. In 2022, Back led Frisco to the Conference Championship game as his team posted the best regular season record in the IFL at 15-3.
The five-time champion spent two seasons in Carolina where he led the expansion Carolina Cobras in 2018-19. The Cobras quickly became the NAL’s top team as Back took them to consecutive title game appearances in 2018-19, winning the 2018 league championship.
Prior to Carolina, Back made an instant impact on the Wichita Nighthawks formerly of the IFL. Hired after their inaugural season, a 5-9 campaign, he led them to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. In 10 seasons as a head coach, his teams won five championships.
Other head coaching stops for Back included the Nashville Venom of the Professional Indoor Football League in 2014, winning a league title, and 2015, 2013 with the IFL’s Texas Revolution and with the Cincinnati Commandos of the Continental Indoor Football League/United Football League from 2009 through 2012. Back won three championships in Cincinnati and had a perfect 12-0 season in 2011. He was named Co-Coach of the Year in 2010.
Back spent a six-year career playing in various indoor leagues. He attended Miami-University of Ohio and was inducted into the Miami University Athletic Hall of Fame for his time there as a student-athlete.
Press Release courtesy of the Tucson Sugar Skulls – Brandon Dueñas
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