Seattle Dragons name new coaching staff for 2023 season

Originally posted on Pacific Northwest Sports
By Chip Clark | Last updated 9/15/22

The XFL is coming back to Seattle. On Tuesday, the league revealed Seattle Dragons’ new coaching staff.

Seattle Dragons football returns to the Emerald City in 2023. The first step to fielding a team is hiring a coaching staff. On Tuesday, the XFL revealed Seattle’s coaches, and there are some big names among them.

Head Coach/General Manager Jim Haslett

Jim Haslett is an excellent choice to be the Seattle Dragons’ head coach. If anyone knows the long way to NFL success, it’s him.

He played football for Division II, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and worked his way to a second round draft pick by Buffalo in 1979. Haslett played six seasons for the Bills before a leg injury cut his career short.

Upon hanging up his cleats, Haslett went into coaching. After 12 years, including a stint as Bill Cowher’s defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, he got his first head coaching opportunity with New Orleans in 2000.

Haslet was the NFL Coach of the Year his first season after turning the Saints around and making the playoffs. He compiled a 45-51 record in six seasons.

Excited to be part of the the @XFL2023. Can't wait to get started! https://t.co/j7XnYupiHR

— Jim Haslett (@JimHaslett55) April 13, 2022

Offensive Coordinator – June Jones

The head coach may be a defensive guy, but his offensive coordinator June Jones is an innovator on the other side. Jones is the guru behind the modern Run and Shoot offense.

He’s a former NFL and college head coach. In the 2000s, Jones led his alma mater, Hawaii, to some of its best seasons ever.

Quarterbacks Coach – Dan Morrison

A June Jones disciple, Dan Morrison, helped turn the offense around at Southern Methodist University. He is an offensive coach who can develop quarterbacks. This is from his SMU Bio:

Since coming to the Hilltop, the SMU offense has rewritten the SMU record book. In their six years on the Hilltop, SMU teams have set 13 of the schools 14 all-time offensive team records.

His SMU QBs have also performed at the highest level. Garrett Gilbert set five single-game passing records (total offense (635), plays (81), TDs responsible for (7), completions (45), pass attempts (70), and Kyle Padron still holds one for passing TDs in a season with 35.

Defensive Coordinator – Ron Zook

Ron Zook has been a football coach for over 40 years. He is best known for his time as the head coach of the Florida Gators and Illinois Fighting Illini.