Waterloo Arena Football Team Announce New Head Coach

A little over a week after the abrupt resignation of their head coach Mook Zimmerman, the Iowa Woo of the Arena League have announced they have hired his replacement — who has nearly 20 years of experience as both a football player and coach.

Mook Zimmerman served as the head coach of the Iowa Woo of the Arena League for its inaugural season. If you're unfamiliar, the Iowa Woo (originally known as the Waterloo Woo) is one of six teams that is a part of an indoor arena football league that began play last summer. Cities include Waterloo, Duluth (MN), Kansas City (MO), the Ozarks (Springfield, MO), and set to begin play this year, teams in Eau Claire, WI and Hot Springs, AR.

Zimmerman announced his resignation as the Iowa Woo's head coach last week. Zimmerman led the Woo to a 1-7 record in his first and only season. Because the Arena League was only a four-team league last year, the Woo made the playoffs and somehow beat first-seeded Kansas City (7-1) at St. Pius X High School in Kansas City, MO. The Woo would then meet and ultimately fall to the Duluth Harbor Monsters in ArenaMania, the league's first championship game.

On Thursday, January 23rd, the Woo announced that Victor Mann would be the franchise's second head coach. Mann, who has spent 17 professional years as both a player and a coach, was noted for his "dynamic coaching style and commitment to player development," per a press release on the Iowa Woo's Facebook page:

We are thrilled to welcome Coach Mann to our team. His passion for the game, combined with his innovative approach to coaching, makes him the ideal leader for our players and staff. We believe that, under his guidance, we will continue to build a competitive and exciting program - a joint statement from Iowa Woo co-owners Julia Stone and Jeff Holmes, per the Iowa Woo Facebook page

Mann is a decorated coach with a lot of accomplishments in a relatively short amount of time. Mann has two Professional Indoor Football Championships and two Professional Coach of the Year awards to his name. In addition, he has been heralded for his ability to connect with players and foster a positive team culture:

I am honored to take on the role of Head Coach for the Iowa Woo. This exciting new team has a solid foundation, and I am eager to contribute to its legacy. I look forward to working with our talented players and staff to build a team that our fans will be proud of - Iowa Woo Head Coach Victor Mann, per the Iowa Woo's Facebook page

Mann's first press conference as Iowa Woo head coach will take place on February 27th at a yet-to-be-determined location.

The season opener for the Iowa Woo is set for May 30th, 2025, an ArenaMania rematch against the Duluth Harbor Monsters. As of now, official tryouts have yet to be scheduled. Read the Iowa Woo's statement on the hiring of Victor Mann on their Facebook page.