PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. — David Moran, the defensive coordinator for the Indoor Football League’s NAZ Wranglers, has passed away two days after he suffered a heart attack before a game, the team announced in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) Monday night.
On Saturday, Moran suffered a heart attack about two hours before the Wranglers played the San Diego Strike Force at Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, according to another post from the team.
A concessions worker saw Moran collapse and notified the team, whose athletic training staff and a ticket scanner who happened to be a retired firefighter jumped in to perform CPR on Moran until paramedics arrived and took over.
Moran was taken to the hospital and had surgery on Sunday morning.
Moran passed away Monday evening. His passing was first reported by KAFF News in Flagstaff and later confirmed by the team in a statement from President/Owner Fred DePalma, which can be read in its entirety below.
Fans, Families and Friends,
It is with the utmost sadness that we inform you of the passing of Coach David Moran this evening. Coach Moran was surrounded by his mother, family, close friends, and some of the NAZ Wranglers staff as he peacefully passed away. Coach Moran was not just a coach to us; he was a beloved mentor and friend to this community. His dedication to the sport and his players was unparalleled, and his loss leaves a void that can never be filled.
During his collapse, the NAZ Wrangler coaching staff, a few arena staff members, Robin, and I were all by his side in the arena. We witnessed the swift and commendable actions of Travis, our ATC, and others who worked tirelessly to revive Coach until the paramedics arrived. He was never alone and was constantly surrounded by people who deeply cared for him.
We also want to extend out deepest sympathies to Coach Moran’s mother, family, and close friends. We know that they were by his side throughout this ordeal, providing love and comfort until the very end.
Coach Moran’s impact on our lives cannot be overstated. His passion for the game and his unwavering belief in his players’ abilities pushed them to be better both on and off the field. He taught all the values of teamwork, resilience, and never giving up.
As we mourn the loss of Coach Moran, let us also celebrate the incredible legacy he leaves behind. His spirit will forever be a part of our team, and we will honor him by continuing to play the game he loved with the same passion and dedication that he instilled in us.
We ask that you keep Coach Moran’s family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Together let us remember and honor the remarkable man who touched the lives of so many.
We will be sharing information regarding services and arrangements as soon as we have the details. Please keep Coach Moran’s loved ones in your thoughts during this difficult time.
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Moran, who is from Prescott Valley, spent most of his life involved in the game he loved in his home state.
He was a quarterback at Bradshaw Mountain High School in Prescott Valley and graduated in 2006, taking his talents to Oregon State University before transferring back home to play at Northern Arizona, where he moved to safety. He was even named a team captain for the Lumberjacks.
After graduating from NAU, Moran went into the family business, coaching. His grandfather, Ralph, was a football coach for more than 40 years and is in the Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame. Ralph Moran was a basketball player at NAU and led Wickenburg High School to a state title in football in 1977 and a state championship appearance in 1979. He passed away in 1984.
His father, Steve, also coached football for more than 35 years and led Bradshaw Mountain High School to the state semifinals six times between 1984 and 1998. Steve Moran also led Florence High School to a state runner-up finish in 1983.
Steve Moran coached his son while David played at Bradshaw Mountain.
David Moran started coaching in 2002 when he became the defensive coordinator at Sinagua High School in Flagstaff, which closed in 2010. Moran was later promoted to become the school’s head coach but left after the 2007 season.
He returned to his alma mater, Bradshaw Mountain, to become the assistant defensive coordinator in 2008. In 2009, he became the defensive coordinator at Independence High School in Glendale, a job he held for two seasons.
He left Independence to head back up north and become the defensive coordinator at Prescott High School, where his father was the head coach, in 2011.
Two years later, he returned once again to Bradshaw Mountain, where took over as the Bears’ defensive coordinator.
In 2014, Moran became Bradshaw Mountain’s head coach and held that position until 2016.
David Moran and his father worked together at Sinagua, Independence and Bradshaw Mountain. Steve Moran passed away in 2020.
Moran joined the Wranglers as the special teams coordinator during the team’s inaugural season in 2021. In the second half of that season, Moran took over as NAZ’s defensive coordinator. He was part of the Wrangler’s IFL championship coaching staff in 2022.
The Wranglers are scheduled to take the field on Sunday, July 7 against the Bay Area Panthers in San Jose, California.
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, NBA’s Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL’s Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football’s Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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