Massachusetts Pirates

Mike Custer has rejoined the Massachusetts Pirates, this time as the Assistant Offensive Line Coach. Custer was previously the defensive line coach for the Pirates in 2022. His coaching experience includes stints with various teams in the IFL: the Seattle Timberwolves in 2011, the Cedar Rapids River Kings in 2019, the Louisville Xtreme in 2021, and the Iowa Barnstormers from 2017-2018, where he contributed to Iowa’s 2018 IFL Championship. 

Custer's return reunites him with Mark Stoute, now serving as the Assistant Director of Football Operations and Associate Head Coach. They previously worked together at the Louisville Xtreme in 2021. Before that, Custer was an assistant head coach under Stoute in Cedar Rapids in 2019, extending a coaching relationship that began in Cedar Rapids from 2013 to 2016. During those years, they secured four consecutive playoff appearances and amassed a record of 40-17. Notably, Custer and Stoute were also teammates in semi-professional football in Connecticut during the 1980s.

After a college football career at the University of Buffalo, Custer transitioned to professional play and subsequently coached at various levels, including high school, college, and arena and indoor football leagues.