Golden Tigers begin search for new head football coach
Russellville head football coach Michael Jackson announced on Jan. 22 he would be stepping down from his position as head coach and athletic coordinator.
The Russellville Golden Tigers will be searching for a new head football coach after current head football coach Michael Jackson turned in his resignation last Wednesday morning.
According to Russellville Superintendent Rex Mayfield, Jackson turned in his notice that he would be stepping down as the Golden Tigers’ head football coach and athletic coordinator effective at the end of his current contract.
Jackson, who is an RHS graduate, said he had been asked to step down, but reiterated he was still a “Golden Tiger and will always be golden to the core.”
“Last year was a frustrating season for us all,” Jackson said in a statement.
“Players and coaches continued to work hard but could not get all the pieces for the season to be successful.
“We were put in a situation where we had to make changes in a short period of time and the frustration continued to build.
“I will take full responsibility for the season. Every decision that I have ever made is based on our kids taking something with them that they can use later in life.”
Jackson said he plans to remain with the school system as a teacher and will work summer camps, but he will not coach.
“For the first time in 38 years, I will not be on the field in August,” Jackson said.
“But I believe there is a great future for this program. The next staff will have a lot of advantages. The ninth grade team was 13-2 over the past two seasons, and we will return 15 starters from last year. Also, the region will change under the new classification in favor of the Golden Tigers.”
Even though he won’t be on the field in August, Jackson said he will always support the Golden Tigers.
“In life, everyone may have regrets, but coming home to Russellville will never be mine,” he said.
“I will always have a special feeling for the field I first played on 30 years ago and as Dr. Bishop always says, ‘It’s great to be a Golden Tiger.’”
Jackson served as an assistant coach at Russellville from 1993-2002 when he accepted the head coaching position at Buckhorn before the 2002 season. He served in that capacity until he was hired as Russellville’s head football coach in March 2011.
Jackson, a 1987 RHS grad, was the first Russellville alum to hold the head coaching position.
“I appreciate Michael’s support of the Russellville City Schools’
athletic department and all of our athletic programs,” Mayfield said.
“One of his greatest strengths was his overwhelming support of not just football, but of all athletic teams. He took a lot of personal time to be at basketball games, baseball games and other athletic events, and his dedication as a Russellville graduate was always apparent.
“Michael has been a good role model for our students and players, and we appreciate what he did and stood for during his time as the athletic coordinator and head football coach.”
Mayfield said the position for head football coach and athletic director was posted on Friday and the school system would accept applications through Feb. 14.
Once the application process was closed, Mayfield said a committee would evaluate all applicants and choose at least five to interview for the position.
Mayfield said he believed they would have a new head coach and athletic director in place by mid-March, which would be prior to the start of spring football training in April.
