View source for Connecticut Coyotes

{{short description|Arena football team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Connecticut Coyotes
| logo = Connecticuttcoyotes.jpg
| founded = 1995
| folded = 1996
| city = [[Hartford Civic Center]]<br> in [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], [[Connecticut]]
| colors = Navy, red<br>{{Color box|#002147|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#ff0000|border=darkgray}}
| coach = [[Lary Kuharich]]
| owner = Ben Morris<br>Scott Gerard
| league =
[[Arena Football League]] ({{AFL Year|1995}}–{{AFL Year|1996}})
*National Conference (1995–1996)
**[[East Division (AFL)|Eastern Division]] (1995–1996)
| team_history =
*Connecticut Coyotes (1995–1996)
| no_conf_champs = 
| conf_champs =
| no_div_champs = 
| div_champs =
<small>Prior to 1992, the AFL did not have divisions</small>
| no_league_champs = 
| league_champs =
| playoff_appearances =
| no_playoff_appearances = 
| arena_years =
*[[Hartford Civic Center]] (1995–1996)
}}

The '''Connecticut Coyotes''' were an [[arena football]] franchise based in [[Hartford, Connecticut]]. The Coyotes played in the [[East Division (AFL)|Eastern Division]] of the National Conference in the [[Arena Football League]].

==History==

On June 22, 1994, the [[Arena Football League]] awarded the state of [[Connecticut]] an expansion franchise, and chose the name "Coyotes" in October of the same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/2008/12/21/hartford-familiar-with-arena-football-flops/ |title=Hartford Familiar With Arena Football Flops |date=December 21, 2008 |author=Jeff Otterbein |publisher=Hartford Courant |work=www.courant.com |access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref> After a tough first season, in which the Coyotes finished 1-11, team president Robert B. Dixon announced that the team would be up for sale.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/1995/08/09/off-season-offers-no-break-in-action-for-coyotes/ |title=Off-season Offers No Break In Action For Coyotes |date=August 9, 1995 |author=Roy Hasty |publisher=Hartford Courant |work=www.courant.com |access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref> On October 26, 1995, Connecticut Development Authority sold the Coyotes to Ben Morris and Scott Gerard for $750,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/1995/10/27/group-buys-coyotes-from-state/ |title=Group Buys Coyotes From State |author=Tommy Hine |date=October 27, 1995 |publisher=Hartford Courant |work=www.courant.com |access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref> Morris wasted no time hiring [[Lary Kuharich]] to become the second coach in Coyotes history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/1995/11/03/kuharich-named-coyotes-coach/ |title=Kuharich Named Coyotes Coach |date=November 3, 1995 |author=Dom Amore |publisher=Hartford Courant |work=www.courant.com |access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref>

However, a horrendous record of only 3 wins in 26 games over 2 seasons led to a disbandment of the team following the 1996 season, after Morris failed to sell the franchise to the [[Madison Square Garden]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/1996/11/01/coyotes-run-in-afl-ends/ |title=Coyotes' Run In AFL Ends |author=John Altavilla |date=November 1, 1996 |publisher=Hartford Courant |work=www.courant.com |access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref>

The city of Hartford would receive another team in 1999 when the [[New York CityHawks]] became the [[New England Sea Wolves]]. However, this team's tenure in the city would also be short-lived, as the team moved to [[Toronto]] following the 2000 season.

==Season-by-season==
{{Start NFL SBS}}
|-
|1995 || 1 || 11 || 0 || 3rd NC Eastern || --
|-
|1996 || 2 || 12 || 0 || 3rd NC Eastern || --
|-
!Totals || 3 || 23 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
|}

==Notable players==
{{seealso|Category:Connecticut Coyotes players}}
===All-Arena players===
The following Coyotes players were named to [[All-Arena]] Teams:
* '''FB/LB''' [[Les Barley]] (1)

==Head coaches==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:140px;"|Name
! rowspan="2" | Term
! colspan="4" | Regular season
! colspan="2" | Playoffs
! rowspan="2" | Awards
|-
! W
! L
! T
! Win%
! W
! L
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Rick Buffington]]
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|1995}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|11
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|1|11}}
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Lary Kuharich]]
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|1996}}
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|12
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|2|12}}
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=history&team=27&year=1996 Connecticut Coyotes at ArenaFan.com]

{{Connecticut Coyotes}}
{{Defunct Arena Football League franchises}}

[[Category:Connecticut Coyotes| ]]
[[Category:American football teams established in 1995]]
[[Category:American football teams disestablished in 1996]]
[[Category:American football teams in Connecticut]]
[[Category:1995 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:1996 disestablishments in Connecticut]]