The IFL season just wrapped up and the indoor and arena football offseason is in full swing already. As new and established franchises slowly finish announcing where they will play in 2026, soon another small wave of news will begin trickling out about the teams looking to fill head coaching vacancies. Teams like the Pueblo Punishers, Dallas Bulls, Shreveport Rouxgaroux, “Outlaw Football Team”, Iowa Barnstormers, Massachusetts Pirates, San Antonio Gunslingers, as well as the rumored expansion teams like the AF1 Michigan team, and the Tyler Crude will all be in the market for coaches.
In this article we will look at the Head Coaching candidates on the market currently. We will break this down into 3 parts: Coaches in other leagues, up and coming coordinators, and free agent head coaches. (By the way look at the shoe game on some of these head coaches.)
Table of Contents
Kyle Moore-Brown to Lead the New Mexico Chupacabras
We will start by looking at the newest Head Coach announced in the Indoor Football League; Kyle Moore-Brown hired by the newest team in the IFL, the New Mexico Chupacabras.
Kyle Moore-Brown has been there and done that when it comes to indoor and arena football. This man got involved with arena football as a player with the Albany Firebirds back in 1995. He would go on to play over a decade of arena football before retiring and joining the coaching ranks shortly after. He has now been coaching offensive and defensive line for over a decade.
He has also been an integral part of the success with the Vegas Knighthawks since their inaugural season gaining more knowledge on what it is like to be a part of an expansion franchise. This was not the first time he was part of helping launch a franchise doing so in his first coaching job in 2010 and again in 2012 with the Cedar Rapids Titans. He will now walk this path a fourth time in 2026 with the New Mexico Chupacabras.
He has never been a full-time head coach as of yet but did serve as the interim coach for the La Crosse Spartans after his brother stepped down. Moore-Brown brings over 25 years of experience in arena or indoor football. Possibly most importantly he brings along the innate knowledge of how to build an elite-level IFL offensive line that allowed just 14 sacks in 2025, while helping produce 1,656 rushing yards, and 1 championship win.
Not a bad way to usher in your first head coaching position. Moore-Brown is highly respected, and one of those people you can’t help but root for. Hopefully he can find success and continue to build on the legacy of indoor football in New Mexico with chapters previously written by teams like the New Mexico Stars, or Duke City Gladiators.
We are going to look at a handful of coaches whether they are currently free agents, or active assistants with franchises at the time of writing, or even a couple of head coaches that could move from one league to another categorized as such. Over this three part series we hope to highlight some coaches that deserve recognition for their efforts, and experience.
Coaches that Could Move Leagues
American Arena League 2
As of right now there are only a handful of leagues that are viewed as varying steps below the main three; IFL, AF1, and NAL. Those are the TAL, and AAL2. Beginning with the AAL2, there are a few coaches that stand out in this league as potential names who should garner interest, although it could be tough seeing any of these names leave their current positions.
Aj Roque, Head Coach Jersey Bearcats
Aj Roque is the current head coach of the Jersey Bearcats. An organization that has been among the top programs in all of developmental football for several years now. This past season when the ENTFLA was announced Roque was initially announced as the Offensive Coordinator of the New Jersey Ciphers, but later was named head coach of the Garden City Heroes. Unfortunately, the league fell apart before playing a single snap.
Roque would finish his AAL2 season in the Championship game, but ultimately lost to the Mississippi Wolfpack. Roque demonstrated the type of coach he is in a following interview placing the blame squarely on himself for coming up short in a game that ended in controversy when pictures emerged of 9 men on the field for a crucial moment in the game.
Roque has proven he belongs at the professional level with his coaching prowess, but his recruiting talents may be what drives home his ability to get a job. The Bearcats have fielded players fresh from paying leagues across the country without operating in a professional league. Give him a budget to pay players and he will unearth some diamonds in the rough, while also bringing along well-respected veterans.
Another important note about Coach Roque is his value at a league level. Roque has served as the commissioner of the AAL2 for many years, and has learned through trial and error how to build, promote, and grow a league. His experience could be invaluable to a professional league attempting to get off the ground, or grow.
Eddie Strong, Head Coach Mississippi Wolfpack
Eddie Strong is a coach whom I grew to respect heavily during the 2025 season. Coach Strong has a presence about him that makes people want to listen to him. He speaks with a tone of authority that conveys experience, knowledge, and confidence without coming off as cocky.
His players would run through a brick wall for him, dust themselves off, and ask what’s next. The caveat to adding his name to this list is that even if offers came his way he could opt to pass on them to continue building up the Wolfpack who are attempting to eventually move into professional football, they have already taken the necessary steps to purchase a field and dasher pads after acquiring the gear from the Harrisburg Stampede.
Regardless, when/if Eddie Strong coaches at the next level, teams better not underestimate his team. He is fresh off of an unlikely Championship Win, and something tells me that won’t be his last ring.
Leonard Holmes, Head Coach Georgia Indians
Leonard Holmes is a name some might not be aware of, but he has been involved with some premier developmental franchises in the state of Georgia. First with the Peach State Cats, then with the Georgia Indians. Another coach on here who should be recognized for his ability to unearth elite players, Coach Holmes brought with him a young player from the Cats who went on to win league MVP despite missing time due to an injury.
P.J. Thomas was a second-year developmental player who had seen most of his snaps in 2024 at wide receiver. In 2025 he was running roughshod through the AAL2, and putting up video game numbers in the process. This Georgia team was among the best in the league, and the man at the helm, Leonard Holmes deserves a lot of credit for how this team performed. His players seemingly loved playing for him, and he keeps it fun. However, it would be surprising to see him leave the Indians.
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The Arena League: TAL
The TAL has done an incredible job of bringing in first-time head coaches who look to have what it takes to move up to the next level after spending time in the TAL. Whether or not they would choose to leave their current team is up for discussion. In fact there is not a current head coach in the TAL, that I see struggling if they jumped into another league.
With former IFL coordinators like Tae Brooks, and Bones Bagunte, former AFL players turned coaches in Tony O’Neil, Cam Bruffett, and Dorsey Golston III, or the legend that is Victor Mann. Depending on the ruleset you may want to lean toward one coach or the other.
Brooks and Bagunte both have held multiple roles in the Indoor Football League and would be natural choices for IFL or NAL teams looking for a head coach. Both of these men have ties to current openings and could wind up seeing a move up sooner rather than later.
Bones Bagunte, Head Coach Hot Springs Wiseguys
Bagunte previously spent time with the Massachusetts Pirates as a wide receiver, and later helped them win a Championship in 2021. Bagunte has spent time in the NAL and IFL during his time and it should surprise no one if he ends up in either. Bagunte also has ties to various other organizations through his playing and coaching career. After leading his team to a championship appearance in year 1 as a Head Coach, Bagunte has proven he should be a hot commodity.
Update: Bones Bagunte has signed a contract extension and already begun building his 2026 roster with the announcements Aaron Dilworth, and Isaac Zico, (most recently with Massachusetts) have committed to the newly minted Arkansas Diamonds.
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Tae Brooks, Head Coach Eau Claire
Brooks has overlapped with current Pueblo Punishers owner Lisa Rorich during her time with the Billings Outlaws, and Colorado Spartans. He also coached under Steven Titus with the Billings Outlaws in 2023, and against the Iowa Barnstormers for a season in 2022. He is also in a way a branch off of the Dave Mogensen tree, the Barnstormers could attempt to keep some semblance of continuity while getting a fresh start. Brooks has already coached in the IFL, NAL, and CIF which had similar rules to the current version of the NAL.
Update: Tae Brooks has been seen in pictures on the Pueblo Punishers page wearing Punishers gear and posing for pictures (left) with team sponsors. Also pictured is D’Nerrius Antoine, and Jeff Luc. Two players that Brooks has coached in previous stops with the Billings Outlaws, and Colorado Spartans.
Tony O’Neil, Head Coach Duluth Harbor Monsters
Tony O’Neil has earned recognition at every level of arena football after winning back-to-back championships in the TAL. O’Neil was prior to this, a relative unknown to the indoor football coaching ranks as most of his previous coaching experience had come outdoors. He however had first-hand experience playing indoor and arena rules which proved to be crucial to his transition.
As a former player, he can some times come off as brash, or cocky with his actions on social media even costing him a two game suspension, but when the cleats hit the turf, quickly you realize this is just confidence in what he has built in Duluth over two seasons. I will say however, in talking to Coach O’Neil multiple times over the 2025 season, he certainly took his suspension as a chance to learn and improve himself as a coach and came back with a more measured approach on social media, and in the public.
Keep in mind no one on this list is a finished product, and Coach O’Neil is a shining example that even the best coaches still can find ways to improve themselves. At this point no one can argue his results, with back-to-back championships on his resume. Over his time in Duluth he has found some great players that have been game changers when it mattered the most, and built a well-rounded roster that had a good mix of veterans and rookies.
He has racked up a 14-4 record so far in two seasons as a head coach, and the team is 15-5 since hiring him. More importantly, he has a clean 4-0 record in playoff and championship games. If the IFL, NAL, or AF1 ever found a home in Minnesota, O’Neil should be the first call, unless of course, the Harbor Monsters make the jump to another league.
Dorsey Golston III, Head Coach St. Joesph Goats
Dorsey Golston III has coached and played for multiple teams located in or around Kansas City during his career. He was an incredibly smart hire for the Goats looking to bring in someone local, who knew the game well. Golston has firsthand experience playing and coaching indoors in the CPIF/CIF. He would be a perfect fit in the NAL with their ruleset closely resembling that of the CIF.
Golston is just 42 years old and is not all that far removed from his playing days. This has helped him keep a good relationship with his players, which has in turn helped him form a core group of players that he can take wherever he may go. He has helped Boo Smith turn into one of the best receivers in the TAL, and turned in one of the best regular-season records of any of these TAL coaches through two seasons, doing so while ownership has changed multiple times during his tenure.
His calm and cool demeanor off the field resonates with his peers and players alike. He is well respected, and he is a Kansas indoor football legend. He should be high on the list of IFL or NAL teams looking for a coach. AF1 teams should also be taking notice of how he has operated so far.
Cam Bruffett, Head Coach Ozarks Lunkers
If I had to guess, Bruffett is likely happy right where he is being able to coach close to his home in Missouri with the Ozarks Lunkers, however the former AFL defensive back could pique the curiosity for some AF1 teams in 2026. Bruffett spent three seasoms as a DB for the Pittsburgh Power, and Cleveland Gladiators after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL selection process.
He returned to his alma matter coaching defensive backs for his college in 2014 while also playing for the Power in the offseason. For the next two seasons he coached defensive backs for a local high school in the AFL offseason while playing for the Gladiators. From 2017-2022 he continued coaching with Logan-Rogersville High School transitioning to offensive coordinator in 2018.
After eight seasons with LRHS, he was hired as the Head Coach of Parkview High School. Just nine months after being hired by Parkview he was announced as the Head Coach of the Ozarks Lunkers where he has coached for two seasons now. In 2024 he went 3-5, following it up with a 4-4 record in 2025. I have to wonder if some IFL, AF1 or NAL teams are looking at these head coaches as potential coordinator options as well. With Bruffett having extensive experience playing and coaching both sides of the ball he is a unique option as a head coach, or coordinator at just 36 years old.
Victor Mann, Head Coach Iowa Woo
Victor Mann is still technically listed as the head coach of the Dallas Bulls on his LinkedIn profile. However, his tagline does say coming back in 2025. While this is just a small indicator of future plans, I would be fairly surprised if Coach Mann is not the Head Coach for the Bulls in 2026.
He has been an integral part of indoor and arena football in the state of Texas for many years. He has built a legacy through various positions in the state of Texas over his coaching career. He is a natural fit for any team in the Lone Star state because of this. The bright side of bringing in a coach like Mann, is due to spending the 2025 season with the Iowa Woo, he has an entire staff assembled, most of which I would assume follow him to the Bulls.
This includes fellow Texas native and longtime indoor football coach Trae Ivory, another natural fit which should draw attention in the state of Texas due to his ties. This match makes too much sense not to happen in 2026 and beyond.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a head coach indoors can be a much different process than it is in leagues like the NFL, UFL, or even the CFL. When hiring a head coach at this level, you have to factor in the coaches that are willing and able to travel to a new state. You have to consider housing, and salary scale for these coaches and making sure an offer is sufficient for them to pick up and move. You also have to consider that some of these coaches will want to serve as a General Manager, and some will want to do nothing but recruit and coach.
There are so many factors when choosing the right coach, that there is no one singular way of picking a coach. It depends so heavily on the team, and fit with that particular coach at this level, that hiring the wrong coach can set a franchise back so far that it could result in their ultimate demise. Hiring the right coach can help a brand new program find success immediately. Like several of the men on this list.
This is just part one of a three-part series on 2026 Coaching Candidates. Next article we will discuss up-and-coming coordinators looking to make the jump.
- 2026 American Indoor Football Season Preview
- Ricky Proehl Returns to St. Louis, Hired as Battlehawks Head Coach for 2026
- 2026 AIF Player Spotlight Anthony Ellison
- 2026 Player Spotlight & AAL2 Update
- AAL Sets Themselves Apart, Announce a Draft for 2026
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