Racine Raiders
Founded	1953
League	CSFL (1953, 1962-1975) BSFL (1954-1959) TSFL (1960-1961) NSFL (1978-1981, 1983-1985) AFA (1982) MWFL (1986-1990, 1992-1994) Independent (1991) MCFL (1995-2002) NAFL (2003-2009) MSFL (2010, 2012) Elite MCFL (2011)
Team history	Racine Raiders (1953-1975) North Shore Gladiators (1978) Racine Gladiators (1979-1985) Racine Raiders (1986-present)
Stadium	Horlick Field
Based in	Racine, Wisconsin
Team colors	Black, Silver, Original Cardinal Red
President	Matt Snyder
Head coach	Gino Perfetto
Championships	8 (1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1995, 2001, 2012)
Dancers	Raiders Dance Team
Mascot	R.J. Raider

The Racine Raiders American football club is a Mid-States Football League team based in Racine, Wisconsin. Founded in 1953, they are the oldest Minor League Football team in Wisconsin (United States) that is still in existence. After one season in the Mid-States Football League, the team announced a move to the Elite MCFL in 2011. The team will return to the Mid-States Football League for the 2012 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). The Organization is composed entirely of Volunteers.

Helmet Design: Black background with a cowboy bandit in black with an eye patch on the left eye with a half and half bandanna of cardinal and black.

President: Matt Snyder

VP - GM: Bob Marcado

Head Coach: Gino Perfetto

Franchise history [edit]

Summary [edit]

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. Although they did not field a team for the 1976 and 1977 season, they remained organized for those seasons. 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) Semi Pro Hall of Fame, more than any other team.

2012 Season Schedule [edit]

American Football Association (AFA) Minor League Football Hall of Fame [edit]

Minor League Football News Hall of Fame [edit]

Retired numbers [edit]

Players that played in the NFL [edit]

Head coaches [edit]

Current coaching staff [edit]

Head Coach [edit]

• Gino Perfetto - Head Coach

Offensive Coaches [edit]

• Matt Nelson - Offensive Coordinator
• Greg Fictum - Offensive Line
• Gregg Brenner - Quarterbacks
• John Mamerow - Running Backs
• Anthony Wooden - Wide Receivers

Defensive Coaches [edit]

• Chris Pivovar - Defensive Coordinator
• Wilbert Kennedy - Defensive Line
• John Pintar - Linebackers
• Pedro Trevino -Defensive Backs

Special Teams Coaches [edit]

• Anthony Wooden - Special Teams Coordinator

References [edit]

Further reading [edit]

• The Milwaukee Sentinel - Google News Archive Search
• JSOnline.com News Archives (subscription required)
• Men young and old chase football dreams at Racine Raiders tryout
• Raiders leave NAFL for MidStates Football League
• Racine Raiders don't find the answer

External links [edit]

• Racine Raiders Official Website
• Play for the Raiders - Racine Raiders Official Recruiting Website
• WRJN 1400 AM
• Racine Journal Times

v t e Sports teams based in Wisconsin Baseball MLB Milwaukee Brewers MWL Beloit Snappers Wisconsin Timber Rattlers NWL Eau Claire Express Green Bay Bullfrogs La Crosse Loggers Lakeshore Chinooks Madison Mallards Wisconsin Woodchucks Wisconsin Rapids Rafters Basketball NBA Milwaukee Bucks Football NFL Green Bay Packers IFL Green Bay Blizzard WFA Wisconsin Dragons Wisconsin Wolves IWFL Madison Cougars Wisconsin Warriors LFL Green Bay Chill MSFL Racine Raiders Hockey AHL Milwaukee Admirals USHL Green Bay Gamblers NAHL Coulee Region Chill Janesville Jets Soccer NISL Milwaukee Wave NPSL Eau Claire Aris Madison 56ers Milwaukee Bavarians Australian Rules Football MAAFL Milwaukee Bombers Roller derby WFTDA Brewcity Bruisers Fox Cityz Foxz Mad Rollin' Dolls Paper Valley Roller Girls MRDA Green Bay Smackers College athletics (NCAA Div. I) Green Bay Phoenix Marquette Golden Eagles Milwaukee Panthers Wisconsin Badgers College athletics (NCAA Div. II) Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers College athletics (NCAA Div. III) Alverno Inferno Beloit Buccaneers Carroll Pioneers Carthage Red Men Concordia Falcons Edgewood Eagles Lakeland Muskies Lawrence Vikings Maranatha Baptist Crusaders Marian Sabres MSOE Raiders Northland LumberJacks Ripon Red Hawks St. Norbert Green Knights Wisconsin–Eau Claire Blugolds Wisconsin– La Crosse Eagles Wisconsin–Oshkosh Titans Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers Wisconsin–Stout Blue Devils Wisconsin–Superior Yellowjackets Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors Category:Sports teams in Wisconsin