The Rattlers had nine players named to the All-Indoor Football League team.

Linebacker/defensive back Davontae Merriweather was named Defensive Player of the Year. Wide receiver Jarrod Harrington was awarded Most Improved Player.

The Rattlers won Best Franchise, Best Fan Base, Best Cheer/Dance Team.

But Rattlers coach Kevin Guy did not win the Coach of the Year award.

That went to the Green Bay Blizzard's Corey Roberson, who led the team to its first playoff appearance and went 9-5 in his first full year as head coach, after the franchise won five total games in two years.

Roberson did a great job.

But what Guy did was remarkable, not only as a coach but as a recruiter, all the while having one foot in Tucson as owner of the expansion Sugar Skulls.

The Rattlers went through the regular season undefeated for the first time since they began playing in 1992. They posted a shutout (56-0 at Cedar Rapids on June 1) for the first time in franchise history. They scored the most points (91 at home against San Diego on April 6) in a game in franchise history.

And they did it with a makeshift offense.

They've been using their third quarterback. Drew Powell was added in late April. They've had a revolving tailback situation because of injuries. They've had a revolving third offensive lineman because of injuries. They've seen two receivers leave for other leagues with one returning late in the year.

They lost two major pieces on the defense — end Josh Gordon and linebacker Ricky Wyatt — to season-ending injuries.

It makes sense that a Rattler didn't win Most Valuable Player. That went to Iowa Barnstormers quarterback Daquan Neal.

With Guy's success, it is expected every year for the Rattlers to be playing for the championship, but he has won only one Coach of the Year award since he became the Rattlers coach in 2008. That came in 2016 when he shared the award with the Philadelphia Soul's Clint Dolezel. It was the Rattlers' last year in the Arena Football League.

The Rattlers (15-0) host the Sioux Falls Storm for the United Bowl championship on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Gila River Arena in Glendale.

Guy became the quickest coach to 40 wins in IFL history. He has 40 wins (counting playoffs) since the Rattlers joined the league in 2017. They won the United Bowl in Sioux Falls, S.D., in that first year.

Rattlers on the 2019 All-IFL team

First team

C Stephen Gurrola

OL Lamar Mady

DE Nikolaus D’Avanzo

LB/DB Davontae Merriweather

DB Allen "Bubba" Chapman

K Jimmy Camacho

Second team

WR Jarrod Harrington

DL Lance McDowdell

DB Dillion Winfrey

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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