Four out of the running for RHS opening

By Staff
Jason Cannon, Franklin County Times
When Russellville native Michael Jackson celebrates homecoming next season, he'll do so on the sidelines at Buckhorn High School.
Up until yesterday Jackson was one of the names on the star-studded list to fill the head coaching vacancy at Russellville High School, but opted to stay on for at least a few more seasons with the 6A Bucks football team.
"Russellville is a great place but I felt like the timing just wasn't right." Jackson said.
"Buckhorn has done a lot for me in the last few seasons…we just got a new weight room and both the school and the community have been really supportive."
Jackson has been the head coach Buckhorn since 2002.
If nothing else, Jackson was at least a fan favorite among the list of candidates, as his would-be hiring would signal his coming back to where it all began.
"Russellville is a great place," he said. "It's a great place to grow up. It's a great place to raise a family. It's a great place to be and it's a great place to work. The whole community supports the school and its athletics. It's a great job and it was a tough decision to make that call and tell them I needed to take my name out."
The timing may not have worked out in 2007, but Jackson's not closing the door on a triumphant return to the Golden Tiger program one day.
"I'd love to be the coach at Russellville one day, but right now I just want to thank Dr. Ray, Don Cox, Rex Mayfield, the administration and the board of education for the opportunity and their consideration."
Gary Rankin, coach at Alcoa High School in Tennessee, Geneva High School Coach Mike McCombs and Sam McCorkle, an assistant at Auburn University, have also withdrawn their names from the search list.