NIFL Tabs John C. Walters as new Commissioner 

South Daytona, FL. June 16, 2009:  The way minor-league football in Florida has done business for years is changing. Moreover, that is a good thing. As training camps begin this fall for each of the fifteen teams in the league, they do so under the watchful eye of new commissioner John Walters. Walters brings an impressive business and sports-marketing background to the job, having worked for both the North American Soccer League and the American Soccer League in the late 80’s. He's well-groomed and carries himself with an air that will surely garner respect in the state of Florida, yet there's also an ease about him that makes you think he'd be right at home pounding back a beer and scarfing down a hot dog at a tailgate party prior to a game in any NIFL city. However, most of all, the new commissioner brings a vision to the job: he knows what he wants and he is now mapping out how he is going to get there.

Walters who was born and raised in Miami, FL. has been involved with football for over thirty years, most on the officiating side of the ball. He is a former collegiate official and worked many games of minor-league football. Health issues brought him into the administrative role where he became the first and only Supervisor of Officials for the Southern States Football League. He also oversees 145 officials within the Southern Independent Conference Officials Association including NAIA colleges.

"I want to be very progressive, engaging, and inspirational," Walters said. "I want to make sure we get the next generation. I am really gearing towards getting families to come to the game. It is so competitive out there, when you think about all the other options for spending family dollars and the other activities as well. It is challenging. But we will put a terrific product on the field every week, I assure you of that" 

We are to have Mr. Walters, on board for this mission. We really feel as if he is the right man for the job after interviewing several other candidates for the position, the Board and I feel we made the right decision in hiring Mr. Walters as the new Commissioner of the National Independent Football League. We feel with this move we’re headed in the right direction as a league and are looking for bigger and better things to come.