Soul to name ex-Chicago coach

The Soul will officially name Mike Hohensee its head coach at a press conference tomorrow, the Daily News has learned.

Hohensee, a familiar name in Arena Football League circles, has been the coach of the Chicago Rush since the franchise started in 2001. His teams made the playoffs every season and won the AFL championship in 2006.

Bankruptcy caused the league to cancel the 2009 season and the Soul sat out 2010. It will resume playing in the spring at the Wells Fargo Center. Spokane won this year's ArenaBowl championship game.

The next task for the Soul is rebuilding the roster through free agency. From Wednesday through Sept. 15, players can negotiate only with their current teams. After Sept. 15, unsigned players become unrestricted free agents. In addition to the Soul, the franchises in San Jose and Kansas City also will resume play in 2011.

Hohensee, 49, played quarterback at the University of Minnesota and in 1987, while with Pittsburgh, became the first player to throw a touchdown pass in AFL history.

- Ed Barkowitz