Northern Arizona Wranglers Hire Jason Simpson as Defensive Coordinator

September 23, 2022 – Indoor Football League (IFL) – Northern Arizona Wranglers News Release

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. – Northern Arizona Wranglers Head Coach Les Moss has appointed Jason Simpson as the defensive coordinator for the 2023 season.

Coach Simpson is being added to the Wranglers staff to replace coach Rob Keefe, on the defensive side of the ball, after Keefe decided to move his coaching career forward with the Bay Area Panthers.

Simpson brings a lot of Indoor/Arena Football experience to Northern Arizona. Simpson was on the Iowa Barnstormers coaching staff under Moss during the 2021 season, as he coached the offensive and defensive lines. Simpson stayed with the Barnstormers after Moss came to the Wranglers last season. Simpson kept his role coaching both the offensive and defensive line, as he also expanded his coaching responsibilities. Simpson also was the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach in Iowa for the 2022 season.

To rewind back through Coach Simpson’s history with football, Simpson cites his competitive family as his inspiration to get involved in the sport. Simpson stated that his mother was an All-American point guard at Baylor University, and coached basketball at the high school level. Simpson took more of an interest to football, as he went on to play safety and linebacker at the University of Missouri from 2001-2005. Simpson was an All-Conference player for the Tigers during his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons at Mizzou.

Simpson became integrated with the indoor game, as a part of the Barnstormers, playing for the long-standing franchise from 2008 to 2014.

Simpson was immediately brought on to the Barnstormers coaching staff in 2015, stepping in as a defensive assistant. During the following season, Simpson was promoted to the defensive coordinator position in Iowa. Simpson decided to take a step in a new direction with the team, spending the 2017 and 2018 seasons within the Barnstormers front office. Simpson gained a lot of experience with sales and marketing for the team, before diving back into coaching in 2019. Simpson worked alongside former Tucson Sugar Skulls head coach Dixie Wooten for one season.

Coach Simpson resides in Des Moines, Iowa, where he spends his offseasons as the defensive coordinator at Waukee High School. Simpson loves being involved with football throughout the entire calendar year. Simpson is also married with two sons, Stryker, who is 11 years old, and Steel who is eight. To no surprise, both of his sons play football among other sports.

When asked about joining the Wranglers coaching staff, Simpson replied that he is, “Excited to continue the success and championship culture that Coach Moss and Coach Keefe have established.” Simpson is ready to get rolling on recruiting players, both new and returning.

The regular season will kickoff this coming March, so keep an eye out for our confirmed schedule, which should be released in mid-October. Season tickets for your 2022 IFL National Champions, the Northern Arizona Wranglers, are on sale now for the 2023 regular season.

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