Sioux City Bandits

Professional indoor football team in Sioux City, Iowa

Sioux City Bandits

Current season
Established 1999 (1999)
Play in Tyson Events Center
in Sioux City, Iowa
GoBandits.fun
League/conference affiliations

* Indoor Football League (2000)
* Western Conference (2000)
* Southern Division (2000)
* National Indoor Football League (2001–2004)
* Pacific Conference (2001–2004)
* Central Division (2001)
* Northern Division (2002–2004)
* United Indoor Football (2005–2008)
* Northern Division (2005)
* Western Division (2006–2008)
* Indoor Football League (2009–2010)
* United Conference (2009–2010)
* Central Division (2009)
* Central West Division (2010)
* American Professional Football League (2011–2012)
* Champions Professional Indoor Football League (2013–2014)
* Champions Indoor Football (2015–2023)
* Northern Division (2016)
* North Conference (2017–2019)
* National Arena League (2024–present)

Current uniform

Team colors|

* Red, black, grey, & white

Mascot| Slinger
Cheerleaders| Bandits/WITCC Dance Team
Personnel
Owner(s)| Donald Belson [1]
President| Brett Funke
Head coach| Erv Strohbeen[1]
Team history

* Sioux City Attack (2000)
* Sioux City Bandits (2001–present)

Championships
League championships (3)

* APFL: 2011, 2012
* CIF: 2015

Conference championships (1)

* CIF: 2018

Division championships (1)

* UIF: 2005

Playoff appearances (17)

* IFL: 2000
* NIFL: 2004
* UIF: 2005, 2006, 2008
* APFL: 2011, 2012
* CPIFL: 2013, 2014
* CIF: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
* NAL: 2024

Home arena(s)

* Sioux City Municipal Auditorium (2000–2003)
* Tyson Events Center (2004–present)

The Sioux City Bandits are a professional indoor football team based in Sioux City, Iowa, and compete as a member of National Arena League (NAL). The team was founded in 1999 as the Sioux City Attack. In 2001, the team assumed their current name of the Bandits. The Bandits play their home games at the Tyson Events Center.

## History

[edit]

In 2000, the Sioux City Attack joined the original Indoor Football League (IFL). After this season concluded, the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League bought out all but two of the league's teams. Once they were founded, the Sioux City Bandits assumed identity of the Attack. The organization has played in eight different leagues including the original IFL (as the Attack), the National Indoor Football League (NIFL), United Indoor Football (UIF), the new Indoor Football League (IFL),[2] American Professional Football League (APFL),[3] the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL),[4] and then Champions Indoor Football (CIF).[5]

Notable early team accomplishments include former Sioux City running back Fred Jackson being signed by the Buffalo Bills of the NFL.[6] Jackson, out of Coe College, was the 2005 United Indoor Football's league leading rusher in which he set an indoor football record for most yards in a single season with more than 1,700. That year the Bandits hosted the championship game facing their rival Sioux Falls Storm. Sioux City had beaten Sioux Falls three times during the regular season but lost the championship game, 40–38.

After owning the team for 20 years, owner Bob Scott sold the Bandits to Missouri businessman J. R. Bond on 20 January 2021. After the 2021 season, Don Belson came on as the minority co-owner of the team. Belson had been associated with the team for nearly 20 years working in game day operations.[7]

In July 2023, the Bandits announced they were leaving the CIF for a new league along with the Omaha Beef and the Topeka Tropics, the last of which would ultimately fold before the 2024 season.[8] On August 8, 2023, the team announced they had joined the National Arena League (NAL) beginning with the 2024 season.[9]

## Notable games

[edit]

Date  | Information

|

Friday, 31 March 2000 | This was the date of the first indoor football game in franchise history. The Sioux City Attack traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska, but lost, 40–27.
Saturday, 8 April 2000 | This date marks the first time that the Attack won a game, a 47–31 victory over the Sioux Falls Cobras at the Sioux Falls Arena. This was the beginning of the Sioux City/Sioux Falls indoor football rivalry.
Friday, 21 April 2000 | This was the first home game in franchise history, a 59–27 victory over the Wichita Warlords at the Sioux City Municipal Auditorium.
Sunday, 14 August 2005 | This date marked Sioux City's first championship game. They played their arch rival, Sioux Falls Storm in which they lost a thrilling heartbreaker, 40–38 in front of 6,840 fans.
Saturday, 5 April 2008 | This date marked a regular season game for Sioux City, in which they hosted the Colorado Ice. It is notable for being the highest attendance ever recorded at a Sioux City Bandits/Attack home game, at 5,956.
Sunday, 29 May 2011 | Sioux City defeated the Kansas City Matadors, 112–0. This was the first time in franchise history in which they did not allow any points. It was also the first time the franchise scored over 100 points. It is still their highest score to date.
Saturday, 9 July 2011 | After they finished the regular season 12-0 and won in the semi-finals, Sioux City defeated the Iowa Blackhawks, to claim their first championship. The final score was 69–28, capping off a perfect 14–0 season.
Saturday, 14 July 2012 | Sioux City won their second championship in a row, beating the Council Bluffs Express, 56–34, to earn yet another 14–0 season.
Friday, 22 March 2013 | Sioux City won their 30th straight game. The milestone occurred over a 38–26 victory in a contest against the Kansas City Renegades. The streak would end at 31 with a loss at Omaha.
Saturday, 21 June 2014 | Sioux City played in their fourth franchise championship game overall against the Wichita Wild in the CPIFL's Champions Bowl II. They lost 46–41.
Saturday, 20 June 2015 | For the fourth time in five years, and fifth time overall, Sioux City played in their league's championship game. This year, it was the CIF's Champions Bowl I, as they hosted the Texas Revolution. They won 76–61, clinching their third franchise championship. All of these titles have come in a span of five years.

## Players

[edit]

### Current roster

[edit]

Sioux City Bandits roster Quarterbacks

* 6 Scott Jensen
* 13 Tyler Lauenstein

Running backs

* 23 Jay Palmer
* 20 Drew Prohaska
* 23 Nathan Tilford

Wide receivers

* 2 Fred Bruno
* 12 Jacari Christion
* 4 Sammie Epps
* 18 Noah Housh
* 10 Braden Meints
* 27 Ethan Mittelstaed-Snorton
* 29 Leslie Owusu
* 14 Brandon Sheperd

|  | Offensive linemen

* 60 Sterling Clark
* 96 Steven Fluker
* 78 Shawn Kemmerer Jr.
* 73 Dejarlis Reese
* 75 Omarr Roberts

Defensive linemen

* 11 Randall Blash
* 9 Keontae Chavies
* 78 Norman McKissack
* 8 Asi Tupua
* 0 David Vargas

|  | Linebackers

* 17 Derek Milsap

Defensive backs

* \-- Quantaye Battle
* 0 Justin Gilbert
* 7 Sherman Gilbert
* 21 Keith Lewis
* 18 Juan Moore
* 21 Antonio Pierce
* 28 Aaron Rountree
* 1 Xavier Spann
* 25 Jovon Woods
* 12 Brandon Wright

Special teams

* \-- Jared Amundson

|  | Reserve lists

* Currently vacant

* Rookies in italics
* Roster updated March 1, 2024
* 34 Active, 0 Inactive

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### Bandits Ring of Honor

[edit]

#  | Player  | Position  | Tenure  | Honored

|
|
|
|

60  | Darwin Bishop  | OL/DL  | 2000–03  | 2003
3  | Erv Whitehead  | WR  | 2000–02  | 2003
42  | Matt Hughes  | LB  | 2000–02  | 2004
64  | Carl Reinhardt  | DL/Coach  | 2000–03  | 2004
12  | Jarrod DeGeorgia  | QB/Coach  | 2000, 2002–03, 2005  | 2006
40  | Jesse Wavrunek  | DL  | 2000–05  | 2006
5  | Fred Jackson | RB  | 2004–05  | 2008
15  | John Ostermeyer  | WR  | 2002–03, 2005–08  | 2010
68  | Steve Schmidt  | OL/DL  | 2000–09, 2013–14  | 2010
55  | Art Maulupe  | DL  | 2000–07  | 2010
73  | Erv Strohbeen  | OL  | 2000–08  | 2010
51  | Spetlar Tonga  | LB  | 2004–08, 2010–13  | 2015
1  | Alex Ardley  | DB  | 2004–05, 2007–12  | 2016
5  | Scott Jensen  | QB  | 2009–14  | 2017
10  | Damon Mothershead  | WR  | 2007–16  | 2017
24  | Johnny Bentley  | RB  |  | 2018
23  | Jon Smith  | DB  | 2011–17  | 2019
3  | Rahn Franklin, Jr  | DB  |  | 2019
6  | Marlon Lobban  | LB  | 2011–17  | 2019

## Staff

[edit]

Sioux City Bandits staff |

Front office

* Owner – Don Belson
* President – Brett Funke
* General manager – TBD
* Director of game day operations – Cindy Belson
* Sales and marketing executive – Carlie Benes

Head coaches

* Head coach – Erv Strohbeen

Offensive coaches

* Offensive coordinator – Scott Jensen

|  |  | Defensive coaches

* Defensive coordinator – Marlon Lobban

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## Season-by-season

[edit]

League Champions | Conference Champions | Division Champions | Playoff berth | League leader

|
|
|
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Season | Team  | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Postseason results

|
|
|
|
|
|

Finish | Wins | Losses
Sioux City Attack
2000 | 2000 | IFL | Western | Southern  | 3rd | 9 | 5 | Won First Round (Lincoln) 52–38
Lost Quarterfinal (Bismarck) 14–30
Sioux City Bandits
2001 | 2001 | NIFL |  | Central  | 6th | 4 | 10 | Did not qualify
2002 | 2002 | NIFL | Pacific | Northern  | 3rd | 9 | 5 | Did not qualify
2003 | 2003 | NIFL | Pacific | Northern  | 3rd | 6 | 8 | Did not qualify
2004 | 2004 | NIFL | Pacific | Northern  | 3rd | 8 | 6 | Lost First Round (Omaha) 40–46
2005 | 2005 | UIF |  | Northern  | 1st | 13 | 2 | Won Quarterfinal (Ohio Valley) 52–17
Won Semifinal (Tennessee Valley) 42–37
Lost United Bowl I (Sioux Falls) 38–40
2006 | 2006 | UIF |  | Western  | 3rd | 6 | 9 | Lost Quarterfinal (Rock River) 33–37
2007 | 2007 | UIF |  | Western  | 5th | 3 | 12 | Did not qualify
2008 | 2008 | UIF |  | Eastern  | 3rd | 4 | 10 | Lost Quarterfinal (RiverCity) 33–37
2009 | 2009 | IFL | United | Central  | 5th | 4 | 10 | Did not qualify
2010 | 2010 | IFL | United | Central West  | 4th | 4 | 10 | Did not qualify
2011 | 2011 | APFL |  |  | 1st | 12 | 0 | Won Semifinal (Kansas) 54–20
Won APFL Championship (Iowa) 69–28
2012 | 2012 | APFL |  |  | 1st | 12 | 0 | Won Semifinal (Mid-Missouri) 61–28
Won APFL Championship (Council Bluffs) 56–34
2013 | 2013 | CPIFL |  |  | 3rd | 10 | 2 | Lost Semifinal (Salina) 28–29
2014 | 2014 | CPIFL |  |  | 2nd | 9 | 3 | Won Semifinal (Salina) 66–37
Lost Champions Bowl II (Wichita) 41–46
2015 | 2015 | CIF |  |  | 1st | 9 | 3 | Won Semifinal (Amarillo) 83–52
Won Champions Bowl I (Texas) 76–61
2016 | 2016 | CIF |  | Northern  | 3rd | 7 | 5 | Lost First Round (Bloomington) 45–65
2017 | 2017 | CIF | North |  | 1st | 9 | 3 | Won Quarterfinal (Bismarck) 82–43
Lost Conference Championship (Omaha) 45–55
2018 | 2018 | CIF | North |  | 2nd | 9 | 3 | Won Conference Semifinal (Quad City) 54–46
Won Conference Championship (Salina) 45–39
Lost Champions Bowl (Duke City) 27–31
2019 | 2019 | CIF | North |  | 3rd | 8 | 5 | Lost Quarterfinal (Omaha) 50–60
2020 | 2020 | CIF | North |  | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 | 2021 | CIF |  |  | 3rd | 5 | 6 | Lost Semifinal (Omaha) 39–40
2022 | 2022 | CIF |  |  | 1st | 9 | 1 | Lost Semifinal (Omaha) 45–49
2023 | 2023 | CIF |  |  | 5th | 5 | 5 | Lost Quarterfinal (Billings) 39–31
2024 | 2024 | NAL |  |  | 2nd | 5 | 3 | NAL Championship (Omaha)
Totals  | 179 | 126 | All-time regular season record
13 | 14 | All-time postseason record
192 | 140 | All-time regular season and postseason record

## Head coaches

[edit]

Name  | Tenure  | Regular season  | Playoffs  | Awards

|
|
|
|

W  | L  | Win%  | W  | L
Jim Anderson  | 2000  | 9  | 5  | .643  | 1  | 1  |
Phil Karpuk  | 2001  | 0  | 4  | .000  | 0  | 0  |
Carl Reinhardt  | 2001–2003  | 19  | 19  | .500  | 0  | 0  |
Art Haege | 2004  | 4  | 4  | .500  | 0  | 0  |
Ervin Bryson  | 2004  | 4  | 2  | .667  | 0  | 1  |
Jose Jefferson  | 2005–2006  | 19  | 11  | .633  | 2  | 2  |
Richard Britt  | 2007  | 0  | 1  | .000  | 0  | 0  |
Roger Jansen  | 2007  | 3  | 6  | .333  | 0  | 0  |
Tom Luxford/Pat Arens  | 2007  | 0  | 5  | .000  | 0  | 0  |
Jarrod DeGeorgia  | 2008–2009  | 8  | 20  | .286  | 0  | 1  |
Tommie Williams  | 2010  | 4  | 8  | .333  | 0  | 0  |
Jarrod DeGeorgia/Erv Strohbeen  | 2010  | 0  | 2  | .000  | 0  | 0  |
Butch Faulkenberry  | 2011  | 12  | 0  | 1.000  | 2  | 0  | APFL Coach of the Year (2011)
Erv Strohbeen  | 2012–present[10] | 92  | 36  | .719  | 8  | 9  | APFL Coach of the Year (2012)
CPIFL Coach of the Year (2014)
CIF Coach of the Year (2015)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Lantz, Shane (November 4, 2021). "Jackson revisits Bandits roots". Sioux City Journal. Vol. 158, no. 42\. Lee Enterprises. pp. B1 – B2. ISSN 2689-5536. LCCN sn87058082. OCLC 15319768 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ "Journal Exclusive: Sioux City team leaving IFL". Sioux City Journal. October 19, 2010. ISSN 2689-5544. LCCN 2019271409. OCLC 1002001030. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
3. ^ Pautsch, Brad (August 1, 2012). "Bandits leave APFL; looking to create new league". KTIV. Quincy Media. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
4. ^ "Bandits to join Champions Professional Indoor Football League". KTIV. Quincy Media. August 11, 2012. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
5. ^ Grant, Ethan (December 3, 2014). "Revolutionary league: Shift from IFL to CIF opens up new rivalries, salary cap to franchise". Allen American. Star Media. OCLC 849657866. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
6. ^ Chadiha, Jeffri (July 31, 2009). "Jackson's path leads to prime position". ESPN. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
7. ^ "SPORTS BRIEFS: J.R. Bond becomes new Sioux City Bandits owner". Sioux City Journal. January 22, 2021. ISSN 2689-5544. LCCN 2019271409. OCLC 1002001030. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
8. ^ "Sioux City Bandits leaving the Champions Indoor Football League". KTIV. July 26, 2023.
9. ^ "NAL ANNOUNCES SIOUX CITY BANDITS AS EXPANSION FRANCHISE". National Arena League. August 8, 2023.
10. ^ "Quick Stats - Siouxland's Source for Local College and High School Stats on the Web". Quick Stats. July 10, 2021. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* All-Time stats

* v
* t
* e

National Arena League

Teams|

* Beaumont Renegades
* Carolina Cobras
* Colorado Spartans
* Columbus Lions
* Idaho Horsemen
* Omaha Beef
* Shreveport Rouxgaroux
* Sioux City Bandits
* Wheeling Miners

Venues|

* Columbus Civic Center (Columbus)
* Denver Coliseum (Colorado)
* Ford Arena (Beaumont)
* Ford Idaho Center (Idaho)
* Greensboro Coliseum Complex (Carolina)
* Hirsch Memorial Coliseum (Shreveport)
* Liberty First Credit Union Arena (Omaha)
* Tyson Events Center (Sioux City)
* WesBanco Arena (Wheeling)

Former teams|

* Albany Empire (2021–2023)
* Corpus Christi Rage (2017)
* Dayton Wolfpack (2017)
* Fayetteville Mustangs (2023)
* Georgia Firebirds (2017)
* High Country Grizzlies (2017)
* Jacksonville Sharks (2017–2023)
* Jersey Flight (2020–2021)
* Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (2017–2018)
* Maine Mammoths (2018)
* Massachusetts Pirates (2018–2020)
* Monterrey Steel (2017)
* New York Streets (2019)
* Oklahoma Flying Aces (2024)
* Orlando Predators (2019–2023)
* San Antonio Gunslingers (2022–2023)
* West Texas Warbirds (2023)
* West Virginia Roughriders (2020)

Former venues|

* Albany Civic Center (Georgia)
* Amway Center (Orlando)
* Arena Monterrey (Monterrey)
* Chisholm Trail Coliseum (Oklahoma)
* Cross Insurance Arena (Maine)
* Crown Coliseum (Fayetteville)
* CURE Insurance Arena (Jersey)
* DCU Center (Massachusetts)
* Ector County Coliseum (West Texas)
* Freeman Coliseum (San Antonio)
* Holmes Center (High Country)
* MVP Arena (Albany)
* PPL Center (Lehigh Valley)
* VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (Jacksonville)
* Westchester County Center (New York)

Seasons|

* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

Champions Indoor Football

Teams|

* Billings Outlaws
* Gillette Mustangs
* ICT Regulators
* Rapid City Marshals
* Salina Liberty
* Southwest Kansas Storm

Venues|

* CAM-PLEX Wyoming Center
* First Interstate Arena
* Hartman Arena
* Summit Arena at The Monument
* Tony's Pizza Events Center
* United Wireless Arena

Former teams|

* Amarillo Venom (2015–2020)
* Bismarck Bucks (2017–2018)
* Bloomington Edge (2016–2017)
* CenTex Cavalry (2017)
* Chicago Eagles (2016)
* Dodge City Law (2014–2017, 2021)
* Duke City Gladiators (2015–2019)
* Kansas City Phantoms (2017–2018)
* Mesquite/Dallas Marshals (2016–2018)
* Oklahoma Flying Aces (2019–2020)
* Omaha Beef (2015–2023)
* Quad City Steamwheelers (2018)
* Salina Bombers (2015)
* San Angelo Bandits (2015–2016)
* Sioux City Bandits (2015–2023)
* Texas Revolution (2015–2019)
* Topeka Tropics (2022–2023)
* West Michigan Ironmen (2017)
* West Texas Warbirds (2020)
* Wichita Force (2015–2021)

Former venues|

* Allen Event Center
* Amarillo Civic Center
* Bell County Expo Center
* Bismarck Event Center
* Comerica Center
* Ector County Coliseum
* Fair Park Coliseum
* Ford Center at The Star
* Foster Communications Coliseum
* Grossinger Motors Arena
* Intrust Bank Arena
* Kansas Star Arena
* L. C. Walker Arena
* Liberty First Credit Union Arena
* Mesquite Arena
* Silverstein Eye Centers Arena
* Stormont Vail Events Center
* Stride Bank Center
* TaxSlayer Center
* Tingley Coliseum
* Tyson Events Center
* UIC Pavilion

Seasons|

* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Champions Bowl|

* I
* II
* III
* IV
* V
* VI
* VII
* VIII

* v
* t
* e

Champions Professional Indoor Football League

Teams|

* Bloomington Edge
* Dodge City Law
* Kansas Koyotes
* Kansas City Renegades
* Lincoln Haymakers
* Mid-Missouri Outlaws
* Oklahoma Defenders
* Omaha Beef
* Salina Bombers
* Sioux City Bandits
* Wichita Wild

Season|

* 2013
* 2014

* v
* t
* e

Sioux City Attack / Bandits seasons

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Bold indicates League Championship victory
Italics indicates League Championship Game appearance

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in Iowa

Baseball|

Iowa Cubs

Cedar Rapids Kernels
Quad Cities River Bandits

Sioux City Explorers

Burlington Bees
Clinton LumberKings
NwL
Waterloo Bucks

* Iowa portal

Basketball|

NBAGL
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Football|

AFL
Iowa Rampage
IFL
Iowa Barnstormers
NAL
Sioux City Bandits

Hockey|

AHL
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NAHL
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Roller derby|

WFTDA
Cedar Rapids RollerGirls
Cedar Valley Derby Divas
Mid Iowa Rollers
Old Capitol City Roller Girls
Quad City Rollers
Sioux City Roller Dames
Team United Roller Derby
MRDA
Your Mom Men's Derby

Rugby union|

USARNC
Palmer Rugby

Soccer|

USL2
Des Moines Menace
NPSL
Des Moines United FC
Siouxland United FC
MWPL
Cedar Rapids Inferno
Pearl City Soccer Club
Southeast Soccer Academy
WPSL
Quad Cities Rush
Sioux City Sol

Iowa Demon Hawks
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College
athletics|

| NCAA
Division I|

* Drake Bulldogs
* Iowa Hawkeyes
* Iowa State Cyclones
* Northern Iowa Panthers

|

NCAA
Division II|

* Upper Iowa Peacocks

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