Piranhas Get Hohensee as Next Coach

Mike Hohensee will replace Babe Parilli as coach of the Piranhas indoor football team next season, the team announced Tuesday.

Parilli, who recently finished the first year of a two-year contract, is expected to stay with the club in some front-office capacity, but team President Roy Englebrecht would not be more specific.

“We are looking to the immediate future,” Englebrecht said. “We want a championship for Orange County and we feel Mike Hohensee can take us to that level.”

The Piranhas contacted Hohensee about a week and a half ago and offered him the job, the new coach said. The deal was completed last week after Hohensee met with Englebrecht and other owners in Anaheim.

“I was very impressed with what they had to say. The organization is committed to winning,” Hohensee said. “Our goal will be to win a championship.”

Parilli will be free to talk to other clubs about any coaching vacancies, Englebrecht said. Parilli has said he wants to coach in the league another two or three years and then retire. He did not return phone calls Tuesday.

The Piranhas finished 9-5 last year, but the team lost five of its last seven games and was eliminated in the first round of the Arena League playoffs.

Parilli has coached eight years in the league with five teams, compiling a 39-43 record.

Hohensee has coached Albany the last three seasons. Albany finished 10-4 this summer and advanced to the Arena League semifinals before losing to Iowa.

Hohensee attended Rowland Heights Rowland High and Mt. San Antonio College, and played played at Minnesota and professionally in the Canadian Football League, the United States Football League, the Arena League and the NFL.