Minnesota Monsters Announce New Head Coach After Tony O’Neil Departure

Yesterday, Head Coach Tony O'Neil announced his departure from the Minnesota Monsters (formerly Duluth Harbor Monsters), leaving questions for fans as to who would be leading the team in their first season after announcing their move to the new league AF1.

O'Neil issued a written public statement, calling his stepping away from the team a "necessary pause" as he focuses on his mental health and family.

He had been the head coach of the Monsters through the first two seasons of the team's existence, helping lead the franchise to back-to-back championship victories in their previous league, The Arena League.

Explaining that the team's front office, ownership, and staff were supportive of his decision to step away, it was just a matter of time before the team would make a public announcement on who their new head coach would be.

It didn't take long for that news to be released.

READ MORE: What To Know About The Monsters' Move To The New Arena League AF1

The Minnesota Monsters announced on social media that they will be promoting Daron Clark to the role of head coach for their first season in the AF1, which will start in the spring of 2026.

Clark was brought to Duluth fo join the Monsters coaching staff in May of this year as the offense and special teams coach. The team made news of this hire public at the start of their 2025 season.

Aside from his 2025 role with the Monsters, Clark also has other arena football coaching experience, including as offensive coordinator for the Carolina Cobras in the National Arena League and head coach and general manager for the Cedar Rapids River Kings in the American Indoor Football League.

Prior to coaching, Clark earned the nickname "Speedy", playing as a wide receiver at the collegiate level for Stillman College, the Montreal Alouettes in Canada's CFL, and for various arena football teams in the United States.

The Georgia native now takes the helm of Duluth's Minnesota Monsters as he heads into his second season with the team, and the team's first season in AF1.

Here's some footage of Clark in his offensive coaching role with the Monsters this last season:

The upcoming 2026 schedule has not been announced yet, but Monsters GM Steve Walters says the new season is expected to start in April 2026.