The Iowa Barnstormers announced a new set of assistant coaches to join Ameer Ismail in his first season at the helm on Wednesday morning, as well as a new equipment manager.
Ismail will be joined in the 2020 season by four assistants: Chris Mosley, Mike Haar, Jason Simpson, and James Terry.
Iowa Barnstormers announce Coaching Staff for 2020 Season
A familiar name on the list for Barnstormers fans will be Simpson, who returns to the staff as the Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach.
Simpson was a former player for the team for six seasons and coached in Des Moines in 2015, 2016 and 2019.
“I am very excited to have Jason leading our defensive backs and special teams,” Ismail said in the release. “Attitude and energy are important attributes as a special teams coach and he has both. Look for an exciting special teams unit and an opportunistic hard hitting secondary.”
Simpson will be joined by another former player in former Sioux Falls Storm star James Terry.
Terry played 10 seasons for the Storm and sits in the top 10 in the league’s statistical categories in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, all-purpose yards, as well as scoring.
Terry was also named to the Indoor Football League Hall of Fame in 2017.
“James Terry has experience playing at a high level as both quarterback and wide receiver,” Ismail said in the release. “I played against James as a player and he was one of the best I ever faced. I look forward to him being able to pass on his knowledge in a coaching role.”
Also on the staff is a coach with both NFL and CFL experience in Chris Mosley.
Mosley – a former coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, and Montreal Alouettes – will be the Run Game Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach.
“Mosley has both CFL and NFL experience and the ability to teach,” Ismail said in a release. “He brings schemes and knowledge of what works best in the run game. His attention to detail elevates his ability to coach next level athletes.”
The other piece to the staff is Defensive Line Coach in Mike Haar.
Haar has spent time with the Green Bay Blizzard as a defensive line coach and most recently was an assistant for the Cedar Rapids River Kings.
“(Haar) has great experience coaching in the IFL and will be a great asset to our staff,” Ismail said in the release. “His defensive line has always been technically sound and physical, two things I value very highly.”
The group will take over with the goal of bringing another United Bowl championship to the city of Des Moines.
“When finding my coaching staff, it was important that they had a love for coaching and the ability and want to learn and grow,” Ismail said in a release. “I wanted a group that was self-motivated and could also motivate and get the best out of their athletes and I believe that is what we have built.”
The team will open their 2020 season on the road at Oakland – a franchise that is new to the IFL owned by Marshawn Lynch. Each game will be televised on YouTube.
2020 Barnstormers Schedule
Mar. 14 | @ Oakland
Mar. 29 | @ Bismarck
Apr. 03 | vs. Green Bay
Apr. 11 | vs. Arizona
Apr. 19 | @ Green Bay
Apr. 25 | vs. Bismarck
May 02 | @ Sioux Falls
May 09 | vs. Quad City
May 16 | vs. Cedar Rapids
May 30 | @ Cedar Rapids
Jun. 06 | @ Bismarck
Jun. 13 | vs. Quad City
Jun. 19 | @ Frisco
Jun. 27 | Sioux Falls
Barnstormers announce coaching staff
