EVERETT – Dan Maciejczak swaggered into town late last winter and boldly proclaimed his intention to coach the Everett Hawks to the National Indoor Football League title in their maiden season.
Maciejczak arrived armed with a passel of former players from the Billings team he led to within two victories of the title last year. Still, many of the neophyte indoor football fans of Snohomish County must have wheezed and scratched their chin stubble like Walter Brennan reckoning maybe the big talking stranger was all hat and no cattle.
Sure, he was teamed up with a fellow who had a good eye for talent in team owner Sam Adams – an NFL veteran and previously owner of the Eastside Hawks who captured the North American Football League championship last year – but, Maciejczak’s plan to just win (now) baby seemed a stretch.
Fifteen consecutive triumphs later the coach known as “Majic,” has the Hawks (15-0) within three victories of the NIFL title heading into Friday’s Pacific Conference semi-final game against the Tri-Cities Fever (10-5) at the Everett Events Center.
The Hawks bandwagon beckons, but it’s fair to ask just who is the guy driving it?
At 32, Maciejczak’s age says “Guns N’ Roses.” Yet, his demeanor is more akin to Merle Haggard. Like “The Hag,” his fighting side is a place to be avoided.
Ask him about an opponent and he’s apt to respond “They hate us,” or “We hate them.”
But, the ever-so-slight smile and twinkle in his eyes soften those harsh declarations. In truth, Maciejczak just loves all things football, opponents included.
Especially in versions such as the NIFL where players ply their trade for $200 a week, hoping to catch on at a higher level and make a living wage or better.
“He’s a players coach,” said Brandon Curry, football operations manager for the Hawks. “He ended his career playing in this league and knows what the players are going through. I think they respect that.”
The son of a career Air Force father, the family transferred frequently but settled permanently in Rapid City, S.D. by the time Maciejczak was in high school. After high school he went on to play football at Chadron State College in Nebraska where he was a NCAA Division II All-American as a center in 1996.
While in college he met and married his wife Rebecca. After graduating – and earning a teaching certificate – he embarked on a professional playing career where his trademark was the long hair trailing all the way down his back whether on the football field or riding his 2,000cc custom-made motorcycle.
“It was a good way to be recognized,” Maciejczak laughed.
There were stints with the Peoria Pirates and the Madison Mad Dogs of the Regional Football League – the forerunner of what became the Xtreme Football League. He later played for the Buffalo Destroyers and the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League.
“They had the coolest helmets in the history of football,” Maciejcczak said of the Barnstormers gold model, which featured aviator’s goggles painted on the front.
He finally played two seasons in his hometown with the Rapid City Red Dogs, then a NIFL team.
After enduring various ankle, knee, elbow and hand surgeries through the years, Maciejczak knew the 2002 season would be his last as a player. Instead, it became his first as a head coach when the Red Dogs head man quit two days before the season opener and the owner offered him the job.
It was a trial by fire, but Maciejczak’s Red Dogs managed a 6-8 record. In 2003 the Red Dogs floundered financially, but Maciejczak crafted a 9-5 mark despite a mid-season exodus of players.
In 2004 he took over at Billings, a 5-hour drive from his Rapid City home. At Rapid City the ownership had relied almost entirely on local area players to stock the roster. In Billings Maciejczak was allowed to recruit players nationally. He brought in old friends including, among others, Albert Higgs, Cory Grow, Jason Quinn and Stacy Edwards.
The result in 2004 was a 12- 4 record. When the Billings ownership group ran into financial problems Maciejczak returned home to his son Jared, 8, and Rebecca – expecting a baby in November 2004.
The financial problems of the Billings organization made his football future uncertain. He kept in close contact with his many friends in minor league football, including Edwards and Higgs.
When Edwards was contacted by Adams about playing for a new team in Everett, Edwards said he would need to talk to Maciejczak. Not long after Maciejczak was contacted by Adams.
“Sam called me and asked if I would be interested in coming out here and coaching,” Maciejczak said, then laughed. “I think he wanted to steal Albert (Higgs) from me.”
Maciejczak’s talks with Adams centered on what the owner would be able to do for players in terms of housing, meals and practice facilities.
“I knew the commitment was there to take care of the players,” Maciejczak said. “He just convinced me Everett was a great place to be.”
Maciejczak also sought the stability of a three-year contract, which Adams was willing to provide.
The downside to what has been a “Majic” season has been the separation from Rebecca, Jared and 7-month old son Jason.
“This year’s been the hardest,” said Rebecca, a school teacher. “Family’s really important to him. When he was in Billings we knew we could just jump in the car and see each other. Now, we have to get plane tickets.”
Road trips to Casper, Lincoln and Billings gave Maciejczak the chance to sneak home to Rapid City. The family has been able to attend just about every home game and plans to move to Snohomish County after the season ends. And after Maciejczak gets in a quick side trip.
“Gotta get to Sturgis,” Maciejczak laughed.
Meanwhile, every morning Rebecca or Jared – operating on mountain time – give Maciejczak a wake up call.
“I think that’s his alarm clock,” laughed Curry, his roommate in Everett.
One of Maciejczak’s passions is playing “Madden.” Unfortunately, he plays the game NIFL-style. “If it’s fourth-and-15 … he’s going for it,” Curry said.
There are phone calls back-and-forth home throughout the day. Sometimes Jared and his dad will talk on the phone while watching “Sponge Bob (Squarepants),” together.
“He’s just a big kid,” Rebecca said. “He has as much fun doing all those kid things as the kids.”
But what about the motorcycle-riding, tough-guy coach?
“He’s more of a big teddy bear, I think.”
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