TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Strikers have named former Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica as the team's head coach, the National Indoor Soccer League announced on Monday at the Yuengling Center.
Gramatica was drafted by Tampa Bay in 1999 and played with the team for five seasons.
The former NFL kicker won Super Bowl XXXV with the Buccaneers and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2001.
“When we started the search for our Head Coach, there were several qualities we were looking for in our candidates in addition to soccer experience: passion, leadership, and a proven winning track record, plus someone committed to the Tampa Bay Community," Tampa Bay Strikers Co-Owner Andrew Haines said at the news conference. "We feel Martin Gramatica has all of those characteristics and more."
Gramatica is still involved with the Buccaneers organization as he is the color analyst for the football team's Spanish radio but said he has always had a passion for soccer and youth player development in the Tampa Bay area.
“I cannot be more excited to bring my two passions together: soccer and the Tampa Bay community,” he said in a statement.
The Strikers first revealed their team name on July 11 and are the latest addition to the NISL.
Tampa Bay will play 20 games in the regular season, 10 at home and 10 away, at the Yuengling Center on the University of South Florida's main campus.
Each city in the league, including Tampa, will have both a men's and women's soccer team. Gamedays for both sides will be played as doubleheaders.
Season tickets will be available for $120.
For more information about the NISL, click here.