Crestwood's Jackson tabbed as new Lakewood football coach

Add Us On GoogleAdd as a preferred source on Google

SUMTER, SC (WIS) - Lakewood didn't have to look very far to find a replacement for Perry Parks.

Crestwood athletics director Brian Jackson will take over at the helm of the Gators' football program.

Jackson was previously an offensive line coach at Crestwood before being named offensive coordinator. Last year, Jackson stepped away from coach to work as the school's athletics director only to discover he missed coaching more than he imagined.

"After being behind a desk all year and going to the games on Friday and watching the team," Jackson said, " I realized how much I missed or how much of a passion I had to be on the field. It's a lot different seeing kids everyday walking down the hallway than being able to work with kids every day."

Jackson will begin next season as a head coach of his own football program for the first time with a team that made the playoffs in their 2014 campaign. For him, building on that success is something that he looks forward to.

"I expect to take them to the playoffs each year," Jackson said. "I think they definitely have the tools. I definitely have the support of our staff, our administration, the AD, to make things the way we need to make them. I don't see any reason why we can't expect the same success or tradition as a Gaffney or Byrnes at Lakewood. Lakewood is on the up and up. There's no reason for Lakewood to be thought of as just another school in Sumter County."