Racine Raiders
The Racine Raiders American football club is a North American Football League team based in Racine, Wisconsin. Founded in 1953, the team joined the NAFL in 2003 during the league's fourth season. The Raiders were the first minor league football team to gain 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Many other teams have since followed in the Raiders footsteps.
- Helmet Design: Silver background with a cowboy bandit in black with a half and half bandanna of cardinal and black on a white circular background in a triple circular outline of silver, cardinal and black
- Mascot: R.J. Raider
- Radio Stations: WRJN (1400 AM) and All-In Broadcasting (Streaming Internet)
- Radio Announcers: Joe Mooney, John Wosyk and Don Wadewitz
Franchise history
Summary
Wigs Konicek, a local restaurateur at the time, started the Racine Raiders in 1953. The team began in the Bi-States Football League (BSFL) and won their first league championship in 1954.
The team was able to sustain itself until 1975 when it disbanded. New owners started the Racine Gladiators in 1978. They paid players and were successful on the field, winning three National Championships. Unfortunately, the team fell on hard times and disbanded in 1985.
In 1986, Bob Milkie, a retired bearing company executive, Joe Mooney, a police sergeant, Jess Levin, a local banker, and others rebuilt the team, this time as community-owned, non-profit organization.
Perhaps the biggest moment in the team's history, as well as that of minor league football, came in 1989 when the team traveled to Ottawa, Canada, to play in a World Championship game. While the team won the game in five degree weather and a blizzard, just playing the game was the important element. The team was now able to apply for, and received, 501(c)3 Not-For-Profit status from the Internal Revenue Service, setting the tone for dozens of minor league football teams since to be able to do the same.
The Raiders have won seven National Championships and have had nearly a dozen players with National Football League (NFL) experience. They also have 26 players, coaches or staff in the American Football Association (AFA) Hall of Fame, more than any other team.
Nickname and uniforms
Coming Soon.
Current season
Season-by-season
Racine Raiders Year-by-Year Records
Players of note
Current players
AFA Minor League Football Hall of Fame
| 1982 | Harry Gilbert | Coach Category | ||
| 1987 | Bob Milkie | Player Category | ||
| 1988 | Kurt Kampendahl | Player Category | ||
| 1988 | Ed O'Reilly | Coach Category | ||
| 1989 | Greg Johnson | Player Category | ||
| 1990 | Charlie Bliss | Player Category | ||
| 1994 | Norm Killion | Coach Category | ||
| 1996 | Ron Hart | Player Category | ||
| 1997 | Tom Kohr | Coach Category | ||
| 1999 | Arnie Garber | Coach Category | ||
| 1999 | Joe Mooney | Executive Category | ||
| 2000 | John Scardina | Player Category | ||
| 2001 | Phil Micech | Player Category | ||
| 2002 | Tony Lombardo | Player Category | ||
| 2003 | Jordan Kopac | Coach Category | ||
| 2003 | Dennis Galipo | Player Category | ||
| 2004 | Brian Forston | Player Category | ||
| 2004 | Brian Erickson | Player Category | ||
| 2005 | Ron Anton | Player Category | ||
| 2005 | Terry Converse | Coach Category | ||
| 2005 | Gary Kuykendall | Player Category | ||
| 2005 | Mike Willkomm | Player Category |
Minor League Football News Hall of Fame
| 2007 | Brian Forston | |
| 2007 | Gary Griffin | |
| 2007 | Peter Deates |
Retired numbers
| 10 | Jim May | Quarterback | 1964-1965 |
| 11 | Charlie Bliss | Quarterback | 1980-1989, 1992 |
| 23 | Tony Lombardo | Running Back | 1962-1966 |
| 51 | Bob Milkie | Center | 1957-1971 |
| 53 | L. Fred Vondra | Center | 1979-1985 |
| 74 | Kurt Kampendahl | Defensive Tackle | 1982-1993 |
| 75 | Ron Hart | Defensive Tackle | 1964-1975 |
| 82 | Ron Anton | Tight End | 1964-1973 |
| 83 | Phil Micech | Defensive End/Defensive Tackle/Tight End | 1985-1995, 2001 |
Players that played in the NFL
| Tony Lombardo, Philadelphia Eagles (1964) |
| Tim Rucks, New York Jets (1983) |
| Ron Daugherty, Minnesota Vikings (1987) |
| Phil Micech, Minnesota Vikings (1987) |
| Brett Wilson, Minnesota Vikings (1987) |
| Matt Turk, Washington Redskins (1995-99), Miami Dolphins (2000-01, 2003-05), New York Jets (2002), St. Louis Rams (2006), Houston Texans (2007-present) |
| Brent Moss, St. Louis Rams (2005) |
Head coaches
| 1953 | Don Perkins | (1-2-2) |
| 1953 | Les Kalchik | (1-6-0) |
| 1954-1962 | Frank Schinkowitch | (46-47-5) |
| 1963 | Jim Haluska | (2-8-0) |
| 1964-1967, 1982 | Harry Gilbert | (44-9-2) |
| 1968-1969 | Jim Thompson | (11-12-0) |
| 1970-1972 | Bruno Wojtaszek | (15-24-0) |
| 1973-1974 | Warren Greco | (16-9-0) |
| 1975, 1979 | Larry Benjamin | (15-12) |
| 1980-81, 1986-90, 1997-2000 | Bob Milkie | (137-29-0) |
| 1983-1984 | Pete Bock | (32-3-0) |
| 1985 | Rich McClure | (9-7-0) |
| 1991-1994 | Terry Converse | (49-3-0) |
| 1995-1996 | Kurt Kampendahl | (29-4-0) |
| 2002-2004 | Gregg Brenner | (36-10-0) |
| 2001, 2005-2007 | Jordan Kopac | (49-16-0) |
Current coaching staff
Head Coach
- Vacant - Head Coach
Offensive Coaches
- Vacant - Offensive Coordinator
- Vacant - Offensive Line
- Vacant - Running Backs
Defensive Coaches
- Vacant - Defensive Coordinator
- Vacant - Secondary/ Safeties
- Vacant - Defensive Line
Special Teams Coaches
- Vacant - Kicking