Today we’d like to introduce you to Jalen Booth.
Hi Jalen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was raised by my mother and my grandmother in North Park San Diego. The first sport I ever played was Little League baseball at Morley Field, which my grandmother took me to go sign up for. It wasn’t really until high school where I started playing tackle football at San Diego high school. I did play one year of flag football for the Mira Mesa Chargers when I was about six years old. When I left high school I ended up going to Azuza Pacific University a division two college in the NCAA. I ended up going to San Diego Mesa in 2018 then after Mesa, I was blessed with the opportunity to go to San Diego State University to play football. then after I graduated from state in 2021, I transferred to Indiana State for one year of football. After Indiana State, I played in the USFL for the Tampa Bay bandits in 2022 then after signing my second year contract with the team I was released and I ended up signing with the San Diego strikeforce in 2023. that first season we went six and 10 and from 2024 to now we’ve won upwards of 10 games each season and have been in the Western Conference championship three years consecutively.
As far as my coaching life goes, I actually started my coaching career at Mission Bay high school when one of my coaches for strikeforce coach Mooney asked if I wanted to coach offensive line. Wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, but was surrounded by a great staff with Greg Tate as the head coach Coach Dulla wide receivers coach Archie was the OC at the time which ended up changing over to Coach Harris Coach Chamberlain, who was the old varsity online coach. He was really helping me a lot kind of learning the kids and learn how to interact with them and Coach Issac, who is also the head wrestling coach who was the linebackers and d-line coach while I was there. The first season in 2023 I wanna say we went four and six which wasn’t really the season we were expecting but going into that 2025 season. We really developed a lot of our young guys and we ended up going 10-0 but Sadly lost in the first round of playoffs. After that 2025 season my old Coach from San Jose Mesa asked if I wanted to come in and coach the tight end position at Mesa College and I gladly accepted. As of right now, we just had a scrimmage with Grossmont College and we are now preparing to go play East LA College in about two weeks.
Outside coaching, I also work private security from time to time. I work with my Uncle George Jackson and my older cousin Royce Roxas. I’ve worked with clients such as Kodak Black,Post Malone, G Perico.
Lastly, for my personal life, I work at a private, non-profit K-12 special education day school in San Diego designed for students who have a challenging time in traditional academic settings. I absolutely love working there on a daily basis from the students to the wonderful staff member such as our principal May Padilla, Eric, Peter, Man, Nina Williams Jason Van and so many more we all do such a wonderful job of pouring our time and effort and love into making sure each child has what they need to be successful. Which, for each child, it may be a little different but as long as every kid is getting what they need then then successes on the horizon. Outside of working, I love spending time with my family, from just hanging out at the house to family barbecues I just love being around my people. I love going to the beach having a good time, Also love a good jet ski session.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, I’ve had some challenges in my life after my first year at Azuza Pacific University. I came home and my grandmother had lung cancer which she ended up beating. But then turned around and had breast cancer, which she beat again. But as far as my college career and playing and going to school, I was always worried about her and on the other end, making sure my mom was able to handle things while I was gone. Sadly, the reason I left Azuza Pacific was because I felt academically in eligible and I had to go to San Diego Mesa College. Luckily the coaches there were very adamant on me being successful in the classroom and help me elevate my way to San Diego State University fast-forward to when I was getting ready to do my pro day for the NFL. I didn’t have a lot of money to pay for private training sessions and so I reached out to my trainer Dusty Anfuso down at Athletic Culture in Eastlake, and I can honestly say that without him being in my corner, I’m not sure how far I would’ve made it so I’m really thankful for him. Fast forward again after being released in the USFL I was having a really hard time trying to find myself and luckily Coach Killmer and Coach Taylor gave me an opportunity to play for the San Diego strikeforce in the indoor football league and I feel like this has been a place where I can really make my Mark. So to say it’s been an easy road would be false, there’s a lot of other things I could go into detail about that I prefer not to, but having my people my village my group of friends to support me all this way has been nothing but a blessing
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
So kind of what I said in my bio that I gave you guys earlier I do a lot of things. I wouldn’t say I specialize in one field or that people know me for one specific reason. I think a lot of people know me from a lot of different things that I do from coaching to playing football to even working private security, I think that’s how I build a lot of my relationships. My mother tends to tell me that she doesn’t want me to spread myself too thin but I just wanna make sure everyone feels welcomed when I’m around.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Kindness, empathy, understanding, discipline, perseverance, sense of safety for others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbooth_78
- Twitter: https://x.com/jalenbooth01
