The Northern Arizona Wranglers were informed that their Head Coach Les Moss wanted to pursue opportunities outside the organization. We now know that he was offered the assistant Head Coach/General Manager position with the Bay Area Panthers, reuniting him with a man He once won an AFL and IFL championship with, Head Coach Rob Keefe. Moss isn’t the only coach reuniting with Keefe, as Rod Windsor has joined the team as the Offensive Coordinator for 2025.
Siri play “The Boys Are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy.
The Panthers with the beginnings of another superstar coaching staff will look to win another championship, while the Northern Arizona Wranglers do their best to rebound from losing such an experienced, and accomplished coach.
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Next Man Up For Northern Arizona Wranglers
This, of course, opens up the question who will the Northern Arizona Wranglers look to hire in place of Les Moss for 2025 and beyond? Let’s take a look at a few candidates floating out there who could potentially be enticed to take over the Northern Arizona Wranglers Head Coaching position.
We will break these potential coaching candidates into three pools;
Wily Vets the coaches that have been or are currently Head Coaches in the IFL. Coaches who could come in and provide a sense of certainty that the Northern Arizona Wranglers would remain competitive immediately.
Up and Comers, the coordinators or position coaches who could look to make the jump to being a head coach in the IFL with the Northern Arizona Wranglers.
Off-the-wall candidates, coaches who may not be the first names that come to mind, but who are still qualified to lead a franchise, and possibly even have applicable experience. This group is less likely to get the call but could still get an interview with the Northern Arizona Wranglers.
Wily Veterans
Hurtis Chinn, Offensive Coordinator Vegas Knight Hawks
The first name on this list, of course, has to be Hurtis Chinn. Chinn was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Vegas Knighthawks a team that turned Ja’rome Johnson into the league MVP. Chinn joined Vegas after spending multiple seasons with the Tucson Sugar Skulls winning Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022, before taking over as Head Coach when Dixie Wooten moved on. After the 2023 season, he again won Coach of the Year honors this time as the Head Coach.
While he only had one season in Tucson, this is not his only experience as an IFL Head Coach. He took over the Nebraska Danger after Mike Davis left for the CFL, joining the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
Chinn is highly respected among his peers around the league, and even by many outside his league. Chinn is certain to get another opportunity to be a Head Coach, and his offensive prowess should make him an attractive option for any team looking to fill the top position on their coaching staff. If the Northern Arizona Wranglers don’t strike first, they may live to regret missing out on him long-term. When asked Chinn said he is “returning to Vegas.” Whether Chinn said this or not, he is by far the hottest coordinator on the IFL coaching market right now, and the Northern Arizona Wranglers would be foolish not to at least have the conversation with Chinn, and hear no from him themselves.
Cory Ross, Head Coach Quad City Steamwheelers
If the Northern Arizona Wranglers want another experienced coach, they could try to chase after Coach Ross, Currently the head coach of the Quad City Steamwheelers, it was rumored he was among several coaches making it known they were available for the right situation, and price at recent league gatherings.
Now often times rumors like these are born out of a desire to create leverage in contract talks with the team that the coach is already with. It would not shock me in the slightest to see this go either way. He could return to Quad City with those whispers of infidelity being put to rest in pursuit of another playoff-worthy season, or this could be a situation where he is open to leaving, depending on the situation he would inherit.
On that note, there are a lot worse rosters to take over than that of the Wranglers. The Wranglers featured many promising rookies last season, as they had every year under Moss’s watch. Perhaps returning Josh Jones IFL offensive rookie of the year would be enough to lure one current Head Coach or another to town. Coach Ross did not respond to our request for a comment on this opening. Another long shot for the Northern Arizona Wranglers, it appears the most qualified candidates may have already taken their names out of the pool.
Billy Back, Head Coach Tucson Sugar Skulls
Could we see Billy Back move on to his third team in as many seasons? This is more of a flier than it is a possibility I see occurring in 2025. For what it’s worth when asked about the opening Coach Back remarked “I’m happy where I am at.”
I would anticipate Coach Back’s return to Tucson as he continues to build toward a championship-caliber team. However, he is another coach that should be atop most coaching wishlists in the IFL.
Coach Back is among the best head coaches in any indoor/arena league, and if the Northern Arizona Wranglers wanted to back up the metaphorical Brinks truck to bring in a coach, maybe they chase Back who had a stellar regular season record with the Frisco Fighters. I may be slightly biased but if I was a team trying to bring in an experienced coach I knew could lead my team to success Billy Back would be among my first calls. This looks lke a near impossibility for the Northern Arizona Wranglers to lure Back, but there is no harm in a phone call.
James Fuller, OC/AHC San Antonio Gunslingers
Another name high on that list is James Fuller. Fuller is just one season removed from leading the Carolina Cobras to the National Arena League Championship against the Jacksonville Sharks, who would hand him defeat in this game. Following the 2023 season, Fuller decided to move on, joining a staff packed with NAL experience attempting to leap the IFL.
In his first season in the Indoor Football League, Fuller lit it up on offense carrying his team to many of their victories on the right arm of Sam Castronova. Together they rewrote the IFL record books. Castronova would throw 75 touchdowns, rushing for another 23. He threw for 3,346 yards and added 485 yards rushing leading his team in every major passing and rushing category.
Granted Fuller likely would not be able to lure Castronova to the Northern Arizona Wranglers, but if he can bring back Offensive Rookie of the Year Josh Jones, he could easily construct another dominant offense for the Northern Arizona Wranglers. The 2023 NAL Coach of the Year is a Head Coach in waiting, and after this season it will never be too soon before he’s handed the keys to a franchise and asked to turn it into a Championship contender.
Fred Griggs, Defensive Backs Coach Massachusetts Pirates
Fred Griggs was let go by the Duke City Gladiators after a less-than-stellar record operating as the Head Coach and General Manager. Perhaps, what he needs is a position where he can focus on coaching and allow the front office to be overseen by someone else. The Wranglers have a very segmented staff allowing coaches and front office staff to handle individual roles. Maybe they bring in Griggs, and an outside General Manager as well?
After Griggs left he was a needed spark in Massachusetts that helped a midseason rebound and a strong playoff run into a championship berth. Owner and Team President Jawad Yatim spoke highly of his impact in an interview with Shady Sports Network before their eventual championship loss. When asked Coach Griggs said “Hell yeah. I love Prescott.” Looks like the Northern Arizona Wranglers will have no shortage of interested candidates.
Up and Coming Coaches Northern Arizona Wranglers Could Look at
Rod Windsor, Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Bay Area
Rod Windsor was previously the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach for the Northern Arizona Wranglers. He was previously announced as the Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the Bay Area Panthers, and it is highly likely he would not entertain going back on his word in joining Rob Keefe, especially now knowing they’re getting the 2022 IFL Championship band back together in the Bay Area.
He would however retain some level of continuity on staff and also would keep the scheme that helped three straight rookie quarterbacks find success in their first IFL season. Could it happen? Yes. Will it? Unlikely. Bay Area is not scared to field an insanely talented coaching staff if it means winning a championship and this staff has already won one IFL Championship together, they begin the quest to repeat right now.
Xzavie Jackson, DC Vegas Knighthawks
Xzavie Jackson played professional football from 2007 to 2018. In 2018 he served as a player/coach, playing while healthy, and coaching while injured. The IFL Career Sack Leader added 4.5 more sacks to his resume before retiring and transitioning full-time into coaching.
He would serve as the Defensive Line Coach and Special Teams Coordinator for the team he ended his career with, the Nebraska Danger. In his first season as a coach and the last for the Danger, they made the IFL playoffs. Unfortunately, after the 2019 season, the Danger shut down, being placed up for sale but the Bosselman family never found a buyer.
In 2020 he was hired as the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach of the Tucson Sugar Skulls. The team had just launched in 2019 and Marcus Coleman their first head coach had bolted for the West Texas Warbirds. They instead hired Dixie Wooten for the 2021 season. Wooten brought with him Hurtis Chinn, Jackson’s former head coach with the Danger.
The Danger made the playoffs every season Jackson and Chinn were there. It wasn’t long before they found the same success in Tucson. In 2021 they missed the playoffs by one game, the very next season they made the playoffs being bounced in the first round. Wooten was let go and Chinn was promoted. In 2023 Tucson again won 9 games making the playoffs again but Chinn resigned, and Jackson followed.
For the 2024 season, both men joined another former Nebraska Head Coach Mike Davis, now with the Vegas Knighthawks. Vegas finished tied for 5th in touchdowns allowed and finished 6th in points allowed while turning Makel Calhoun, Lee Autry, Gabe McCoy, Bryce Hampton, and James Ceasar into stars. Jackson is just 39 years old and is likely ready for this opportunity after playing indoors for ten seasons, and now coaching full-time for five seasons, having missed the playoffs just one time as a coach. Jackson when asked said he would have interest in interviewing for the position if the team reached out. This is one candidate the Northern Arizona Wranglers need to talk to sooner rather than later.
Anson Yarborough, DC Iowa Barnstormers
The 2024 season may not be the best indication of what Coach Yarborough is capable of. He has found success in the past coaching in leagues like the National Arena League, and American Arena League as well. The longtime Defensive Coordinator has also spent time with the Carolina Cobras, Fayetteville Mustangs, and Atlanta/Carolina Havoc during his career.
His experience as a player is not too far behind him which allows him to connect with his players forming bonds that help them build toward success together. He is also a great identifier of talent, and a student of the indoor game having played both sides of the ball himself during his career. This experience would help him as a head coach at the IFL level.
Hiring Yarborough after last season might turn some heads given Iowa’s 5-11 record, but this is one of those situations of choosing to potentially be a year too early or waiting to be a year too late. This also would not be his first stint as a Head Coach. He served as the HC for the Carolina Havoc leading them to a 8-1 record before losing in the semi-finals. The Havoc folded the following season, and Yarborough headed to the Cobras.
Beginning a long stretch of calling defenses. It takes a special person to take over a franchise as the Head Coach your first season as a coach. He could also potentially bring in some recent “heavy hitters” in the coaching world given his ties to many staffs. When asked if he would consider the job he answers with a resounding “Hell yes, I would.” The ball is in your court Northern Arizona Wranglers.
Siaha Burley, Former AHC Arizona Rattlers
Coach Burley is an Arizona native which may seem like a small thing in a coaching hire, but if he is still local enough to travel to Prescott Valley, he could save the team some money by not needing housing. Not only is Burley a native to the area, he has an extensive playing and coaching career, that includes two NAL Championships as a Head Coach.
Burley as a player caught over 800 passes and amassed over 10,000 yards, and 247 touchdowns through the air. When he speaks, players listen knowing he has first-hand knowledge of how to find immense success and build a long-term career in this game. After playing for nearly a decade he transitioned into coaching under Kevin Guy as the WR Coach for the Rattlers in 2011.
He attempted a comeback with the Rattlers but ended up back in coaching the following season as the Offensive Coordinator for the Chicago Rush. This began a run on calling plays for him that lasted five years before the Jacksonville Sharks offered him a Head Coaching job mid-AFL season. He opted to take it.
Later that year he won the NAL Championship, and he would repeat this feat in 2019. He left after the 2019 season, with James Fuller taking over only to return in 2022 as the Head Coach once again for one season. In his four seasons as their Head Coach, he was 26-8 including a 4-1 playoff record. In 2023 he re-joined the Arizona Rattlers and has served as the Assistant Head Coach since.
He could potentially even hire another Rattler’s coach as his offensive coordinator in current offensive line coach Kevin Ashack who doubles as an offensive coordinator and o-line coach at a local high school. Could the Northern Arizona Wranglers look to hire a coach away from their interstate rivals?
Off The Wall Candidates for Northern Arizona Wranglers
Chris Dixon, HC Cactus Shadows High School
Chris Dixon could be a very intriguing candidate for this opening if he would entertain it. For those who aren’t aware, Chris Dixon was a long-time indoor football league quarterback who has a list of records and awards about a mile long. His name most recently came up in 2023 when the Arizona Rattlers signed their former QB/RB coach to be their backup quarterback.
This came after multiple seasons away from the game as a player, but could it also have reignited a desire to be involved with IFL football in Arizona? For those wondering, his High School season ends in November giving him roughly 4 months to focus on his IFL team before the season. The two programs are located just over an hour apart as well, so travel is not terribly prohibitive.
Having begun his indoor football career in 2004, and playing or coaching it for most of the next twenty years he is uniquely equipped to take over the Wranglers. This includes previous IFL Head Coaching experience with the Billings Wolves in 2015-2016 during a brief retirement for Dixon.
In 2015 he was inducted into the IFL Hall of Fame the same season he would serve as an IFL Head Coach for the first time. Dixon actually once coached a rookie Jawad Yatim in his first start. Logging a 13-17 record as the Head Coach of the Wolves, the team shuttered after their playoff appearance in 2016.
In 2017 Dixon resurfaced playing for the Texas Revolution only to win a Championship in the CIF. He again popped back up in 2019 returning to the Sioux Falls Storm winning his 9th total championship, including seven in the IFL. In 2022 he joined the Rattlers as their quarterback coach/running back coach, In the same season he was hired by Cactus Shadows as their Head Coach. Dixon said the opening is “interesting”, he stopped short of saying whether or not he would take the job if offered. This is another coach I believe the Northern Arizona Wranglers should strongly consider in 2025.
Robert Kent, Assistant OC/QB Coach Massachusetts Pirates
Robert Kent began his professional football career in 2004 originally signing with the Tennessee Titans after going undrafted in the 2004 selection process. Kent would explore other opportunities spending time with the CFL, AFL, AF2, Lone Star Football League, Intense Football League, Indoor Football League, National Arena League, American Arena League, and others along the way.
His playing career spanned from 2004-2022 before he decided to retire and get into coaching. He had interest from multiple teams when he decided to make this jump, but ultimately landed with the Massachusetts Pirates of the IFL. Despite the fact that his playing career just ended after the 2022 season, he has already spent time as an IFL Head Coach.
In the latter part of the 2021 season, he took over as the Head Coach for the Duke City Gladiators in their first IFL season. Following the 2020 cancellation, the Gladiators had gone into 2021 with Martino Theus as the Head Coach, but by the end of June, he had been let go after a 2-4 record.
Kent would take over and lead the team to a 6-3 finishing with a 7-7 record, just good enough to make it into the IFL playoffs. He and his team would lose in the first round of the playoffs to the Arizona Rattlers losing by a field goal on the day. Kent is 43 years old and served this season as their Assistant Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach during what ended as a Championship season. Losing to none other than the Arizona Rattlers once again.
Something tells me taking over the NAZ Wranglers and playing against the Rattlers multiple times would be an enticing opportunity for the former gunslinger. Working with 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year and grooming him into a superstar quarterback could be the icing on the cake as he looks to fully transition into his coaching career in 2025 and beyond. If Kent is interested I think this is a conversation the Northern Arizona Wranglers need to have immediately.
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Looks like BAP are trying to buy championships and put more butts in the seats, instead of mentoring these young players.
I wish NAZ Wranglers would hire Hurtis Chinn he is great for the game, great advocate/mentor for his players. IMO would be a great addition
Steve Myersif Chinn was interested we believe they should have as well. However we have a hunch they are looking for a younger (in their coaching tenure) coach
Shady Sports Network it will be Cory Ross from QC IMO
Steve Myerspossibly