The Minnesota Monsters strengthened their staff Friday with the hiring of longtime indoor football standout LaRoche Jackson as the team’s defensive coordinator, bringing a seasoned voice to a franchise preparing for its first season in Arena Football One.
Jackson played defensive back professionally from 2008 to 2019, carving out one of the more durable careers in the indoor game. He appeared in the Indoor Football League, the Arena Football League and the Canadian Football League, earning a reputation as a physical cover defender with strong ball skills.
His AFL stops included time with the Cleveland Gladiators and Jacksonville Sharks, where he was part of multiple playoff runs. In the IFL, he became known for steady production in the secondary and leadership inside the locker room.
After retiring as a player, Jackson moved into coaching and quickly rose through the indoor ranks. He spent multiple seasons with the Salina Liberty, eventually taking over as defensive coordinator.
His units there were known for aggressive pressure, disciplined tackling and consistently ranking among the league’s tougher red-zone defenses. Under his watch, Salina produced several all-league defensive selections.
Minnesota is still assembling its first-year roster and staff ahead of its AF1 debut this spring.