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FB Coach Josh Jones professional contract release
Hayden Mangan, Fort Lewis Athletic Communications
Football coach Josh Jones has signed a professional contract with the Northern Arizona Wranglers of the Indoor Football League.

Coach Jones signs professional contract with the Indoor Football League

12/18/2023 11:00:00 AM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
DURANGO, Colo. – Fort Lewis College football assistant coach for running backs Josh Jones is returning to the gridiron this spring after signing a professional contract with the Northern Arizona Wranglers of the Indoor Football League.
 
The Wranglers compete in an 18-week schedule from March through July including a three-game playoff stretch. Jones will complete the Wranglers' full season before returning to Fort Lewis prior to the 2024 fall camp.
 
"I am grateful to Coach Cox for allowing me to continue to pursue my professional career as well as being able to coach the running backs here at FLC," Jones shared. "Being able to be around Sam and a new environment, has been a great opportunity. I believe in everything we are doing as a program, and I am excited to be a part of Fort Lewis Football moving forward. I am grateful to Coach Moss and Coach Windsor with Northern Arizona for giving me this opportunity to continue playing professionally."
 
The IFL was born in 2009 after the United Indoor Football League and Intense Football League dissolved to merge into what the IFL has become today. The IFL and Xtreme Football League announced a player partnership to provide the opportunity for players to transfer between the two leagues.
 
Jones was previously signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League following the 2023 National Football League Draft but was released following training camp. Jones then made the move to Durango, Colo., and began his coaching career.
 
"Being in a new environment has helped me grow as a person and as a coach. Coach Cox and the FLC administration have done a great job of getting the right people in the building to get this program to where it needs to be. Our team is full of exceptional people who have a common goal in mind and coming to work every day with this staff has been a great experience. This staff is full of great football minds and people in general."
 
A five-year starter at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Jones played in 46 career games throwing for 10,148 passing yards and rushing for 478. Jones racked up 70 touchdowns through the air and another 17 on the ground. Jones holds the program records for career passing yards, and total offense, and ranks 11th in all-time scoring. His efforts on the field twice earned him All-Mountain East Conference Honorable Mention in 2021 and 2022 alongside a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honor in 2022.
 
"Schematically, Coach Grinde has this offense at a high level and to be able to learn from him has been awesome. I have enjoyed contributing to our program in meetings and interacting with our players daily. Every day, I come in with the mindset to learn and help our players in any way I can. I strive to be someone our players can lean on in terms of having experience in this offense and also by bringing my professional experience to the table."

The Wranglers are set to begin the 2024 season at home against the Arizona Rattlers at Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Ariz., on Saturday, Mar. 16, at 6:05 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
 
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