Bismarck Bucks
Established 2016
Play in Bismarck Event Center
in Bismarck, North Dakota
www.bismarckbucks.com
League/conference affiliations
Current uniform
Team colorsOrange, black and gold
     
MascotTAG
Personnel
Owner(s)BEK Communications[1]
General managerGregory Schuh
Head coachRod Miller
Team history
  • Bismarck Bucks (2017–2022)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (3)
Home arena(s)

The Bismarck Bucks are an indoor American football team based in Bismarck, North Dakota. The Bucks joined Champions Indoor Football (CIF) as an expansion team in 2016, and began play for the 2017 season.[2] The team moved to the Indoor Football League (IFL) beginning with the 2019 season.[3] The team played its home games at the Bismarck Event Center in Bismarck. The team suspended operations in 2022, but are rumored to returned to the IFL in 2025.

The Bucks were the third indoor football team to play in Bismarck, following the Bismarck Blaze who played in the original Indoor Football League for its second and final season of 2000, as well as the Bismarck Roughriders who played in the National Indoor Football League from 2002 until 2003.

History

2017–2022

On September 28, 2016, it was announced that Bismarck had been granted a team in the CIF to begin play for the 2017 season and owned by the Sallberg family under the corporate name Dakota Pro Football LLC.[1] Richard Davis was announced as the team's first head coach and general manager, with former University of Mary wide receiver Elby Pope signed as the team's first player.[4]

Following a name-the-team contest, the Bismarck Bucks name, logo and colors were announced on the November 1 episode of KXMB-TV news/talk program Good Day Dakota.[5]

During the Bucks' second season, head coach and general manager Richard Davis was relieved of duties after several workplace grievances had been filed against him and his wife Judy Davis, another Bucks' employee. He was replaced by former Wichita Force and Bucks' offensive coordinator Paco Martinez on an interim basis.[6]

On October 5, 2018, the Bucks announced that they had joined the Indoor Football League for the 2019 season, following the Quad City Steamwheelers from the CIF.[3] At the beginning of the 2019 season, the majority ownership of Dakota Pro Football LLC was sold to BEK Communications by the Sallberg family.[1]

2023

The Bucks were inactive for the 2023 season in the IFL. The team will be collaborating with the North Dakota Workforce Safety Insurance (WSI) to determine the scope of services needed to support the franchise.[7] The Bucks look to compete in the 2025 season.

Season-by-season results

League champions Conference champions Division champions Playoff berth League leader
Season League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
Finish Wins Losses Ties
2017 CIF North 4th 5 7 0 Lost Conference Semifinal (Sioux City) 43–82
2018 CIF North 4th 5 7 0 Lost Conference Semifinal (Salina) 51–81
2019 IFL 8th 2 12 0
2020 IFL — 0 1 0 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 IFL 7th 7 8 0 Lost First round (Massachusetts) 19–44
2022 IFL Eastern 6th 3 13 0
2023 Inactive for IFL 2023 season
Totals 22 48 0 All-time regular season record (2017–2022)
0 3 — All-time postseason record (2017–2022)
22 51 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2017–2022)

References

  1. ^ a b c "BEK Communications takes over as majority owner of the Bismarck Bucks". KXMB-TV. March 20, 2019.
  2. ^ Mark Wishnia (September 26, 2016). "Bismarck is Getting an Indoor Football Team". www.cool987fm.com. Loudwire Network.
  3. ^ a b Kosirowski, Ken (October 5, 2018). "Bismarck Bucks moving to IFL, hire new general manager, head coach". MyNDNow.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  4. ^ Thomas, Steve (September 28, 2016). "Football returns to Event Center". BismarckTribune.com. The Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  5. ^ "Bismarck Bucks, the indoor pro football team gets set for winter". MyMDNow.com. KXMB-TV. November 1, 2016. Archived from the original on November 3, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  6. ^ "Bismarck Bucks fire head coach after workplace grievance filed". KXMD-TV. April 19, 2018.
  7. ^ "Bismark Bucks Press Pause for 2023". Bismark Bucks. Retrieved 14 May 2023.

External links

Indoor Football League
Champions Indoor Football
Sports teams based in the Dakotas
Categories