Owner: Marcum contract extension imminent

Storm coach Tim Marcum, who has only one year left on his contract with the team, said Monday he would like to coach Tampa Bay beyond the 2009 season.

Apparently, he will get his wish.

Storm owner Robert Nucci told the Times on Tuesday he expects to have a contract extension with Marcum negotiated sometime in the next "month or two," and possibly sooner than that.

"Coach Marcum is my friend," Nucci said. "He is an inspiration to me and to the team. He is my coach. He is my guy. He was my guy this year. He's going to be my guy next year. And it's my intention to have him as my guy, my coach into the future. I see a truly great future with Coach Marcum and the Tampa Bay Storm. I don't see anything that's going to change that."

In 14 seasons with the Storm, Marcum is 143-81 with three AFL titles. Tampa Bay went 8-8 this season and missed the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history.

"We're going to address (Marcum's contract situation) in the near future," Nucci said. "We're certainly not going to let this go into the next season or close thereby."