Staff

Tom Menas

Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator

In two seasons at the helm of the Albany Empire, Head Coach Tom Menas has led the Albany Empire to back to back National Arena League Championship titles. Since Menas' time in Albany, the Empire have been ranked #1 nationally amongst all arena football teams. A former NFL and USFL player, Menas has an extensive coaching background. He was linebackers and running back coach for the Arena Football League's Detroit Fury from 2001 to 2003. Menas served as defensive line coach for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts from 2004 to 2006, winning a Grey Cup in 2005.

He went into private coaching and athletic training until resurfacing with the Oakland (Mich.) club team, first as defensive coordinator and later as head coach. He had a two-year record of 23-1 at Oakland, winning the National Club Football Association championship in 2016.

Menas spent 2018 as head coach of the Oakland County Racers of the Rivals Professional Football League and in 2019 was offensive/defensive line and special teams coach of the IFL's Green Bay Blizzard.

For the 18 months prior to signing with the Empire, Menas spent his time in New Jersey, as assistant head coach for the NAL's Jersey Flight.

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Damon Ware

Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach

Damon Ware has helped lead the Albany Empire to Back to Back National Arena League Championships in 2021 and 2022 as the teams Offensive Coordinator. Damon Ware joined the Albany Empire in 2021 after spending the 2020 shortened season with the Omaha Beef as their Offensive Coordinator. In 2019, Ware spent the IFL season with the Nebraska Danger as their Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach. In Nebraska, Ware helped lead the Danger to the third ranked rushing attack in the Indoor Football League, along with the #1 rusher in the league and Rookie of the Year Tommy Armstrong (Nebraska).

In 2018, Ware served as Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator for the Cedar Rapids Titans where he led the #1 passing offense in the IFL. Ware’s Quarterback Jake Medlock (Florida International) led the Indoor Football League in passing yards per game and passing touchdowns. In 2017, Ware also held the title of Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator for the Colorado Crush. Ware was the Head Coach for the Cheyenne Warriors from 2012-2013 seasons competing in the American Professional Football League. Also in 2013, Ware was the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator for Adams City High School. In 2011, Ware was the Head Coach of the Calanda Broncos team in Switzerland. The team finished undefeated in Switzerland winning the Swiss Bowl national championship. Ware’s team finished ranked first in both offense and defense along with the #5 ranking in all of Europe.

In 2010, Ware was the Head Coach for the Finland Oulu Northern Lights and led them to the championship game. In 2009, Ware served as the Head Coach/General Manager of the Denver Titans of the American Professional Football League. In 2008, Ware worked as the Quarterbacks Coach at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Ware also served as Head Coach/General Manager for the Black Hills Red Dogs of the National Indoor Football League from 2004-2005.

Ware coached for William Hinkley High School from 1998-2000 and returned from 2002-2003. During his high school tenure, Ware served as a coordinator for both offense, defense, and special teams. In his tenure at William Hinkley High School, Ware’s teams won 2 Conference Championships including the first undefeated conference championship in school history, coached an offensive player of the year, coached a defensive player of the year, and broke the state record with his defensive secondary amassing 28 interceptions with 9 returned for touchdowns.

In 2001, Coach Ware was honored with the opportunity to coach with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) through the Minority Internship Fellowship program. Ware worked as an assistant wide receivers coach.

Ware holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science/Psychology and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Away from coaching, Ware is a real estate investor specializing in older farmhouses along with being the owner of a digital marketing company and children’s bilingual book company. Ware and his wife, Nanie, live in Texas with their son, Dario.

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Michael Custer

Offensive/Defensive Line

Custer has an extensive history of coaching in arena football, bringing over 25 years of coaching experience with him to Albany. Most recently, Michael Custer was with the Massachusetts Pirates of the IFL for the 2022 season coaching their Offensive and Defensive lines. Before his time in Massachusetts, Custer spent time with the IFL’s Iowa Barnstormers from 2017-2018 and the IFL’s Cedar Rapids Titans from 2013-2016. Custer is a native of Wheatfield, NY where he resides with his wife Frances.

Phil Menas

Associate Director of Scouting and Player Personnel

https://twitter.com/PhilMenas

Phil had the advantage of being around professional football at an early age. Starting as a teenager, he was a coaches’ assistant for Arena Football League’s Detroit Fury. Shortly after, having the same role with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League during a Grey Cup-winning season in 2004.

Working his way up the ladder from making copies and game day ball boy to earning his way into meetings and war rooms, and eventually, a part of future coaching staffs.

Taking time to pursue his education, Phil graduated from Central Michigan University.

Circling back to football, he coached on Oakland University’s coaching staff from 2015 to 2017 as Wide Receivers/Tight Ends Coach and Passing Game Coordinator. Under Head Coach Tom Menas, together they boasted a 23-1 record over two seasons and won an NCFA National Championship in the process.

Last season, Phil was the Assistant to the Director of Player Personnel for the National Arena League’s Champion, Albany Empire. He worked alongside Director of Player Personnel, Dave Mogenson, and Head Coach, Tom Menas in assisting with scouting and player personnel in a NAL Championship winning season.

Returning this season, he’s looking for the same goal in mind—to bring a championship team back to the capital region.

Phil enjoys spending his off-season living in St. Clair Shores, Michigan with his wife, Talia, and their daughter, Lilianna

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James Nelms

Equipment Manager and Quality Control

Chris Cipperley

Intern

Chris Cipperley comes to the Empire with a wealth of football knowledge as he is also the Owner and Head Coach of the Southern Vermont Storm of the New England Football League.