Salem's Jackson Takes Norcom AD Gig
Robert Jackson is leaving his post as Head Football Coach at Salem High School in Virginia Beach to become the Athletic Director at Norcom High School, his alma mater, in Portsmouth.
"The timing was bad for me. My comfort zone was definitely disturbed. But it was a chance to move to the other side," Jackson told VirginiaPreps.com.
"I've been coaching for 28 years now. The opportunity came open and it was a short window. I just told my kids a few minutes ago and that was tough, really tough. Even though the rumors were all over the streets, it was not something long drawn out. I had to give it some serious thought, and I just thought it was the best move for me and my family."
Jackson went 102-31 in 11 seasons at Salem, highlighted by an Eastern Region Championship during the 2006 campaign. They reached the State Semis that year as well as in 2013 and 2014. In fact, the Sun Devils missed the playoffs only once - when they finished an even 5-5 in 2009 - during his tenure.
Combine his coaching stints at Bayside and Landstown, Jackson was the active leader in wins among Beach District coaches with 137 in 15 seasons compared to just 52 losses.
Jackson, 52, replaces Oronde Andrews as Norcom's AD. He has a daughter that is a rising senior at Norcom, which also was a factor in his decision, he said.
“I’ve been an assistant AD at two different schools. My passion is sports and it was an opportunity to dabble in some things that I was familiar with, but really only dealt with the football side. These jobs are hard to come by, so if you let one go by, it’ll be a while before another comes open.”
Meanwhile, taking over as Salem's new Head Football Coach will be Shawn Wilson, who has been on the Sun Devils' staff since stepping down as Green Run's Head Coach in 2012.
Wilson went 37-25 in six years at Green Run with three playoff appearances, including consecutive double-digit win seasons. That was a huge improvement from their 2-58 mark over a 60-game span prior to his arrival in 2007.
Salem is expected to be one in the top contenders in the Beach District and among Group 5A schools in the state with running back Davonte Williams returning as well as their top two tacklers from a season ago, Morris Vaughan and Taeyonn Reynolds.
The Sun Devils' 2016 season opener will be on August 26th at home against Ocean Lakes, which also ushers in a new Head Coach in Joe Jones, formerly of King's Fork. Ocean Lakes has won 37 straight Beach District regular season contests.
Though he’s excited about returning to the Greyhounds, Jackson isn’t calling this a retirement from coaching or closing the door completely on being back on the sidelines one day.
“I wouldn’t say it was the end. I’ll be involved in some kind of way in coaching. Even if it just meant rec league,” Jackson stated.
“Coaching is my passion. I’m going to help Shawn out any way that I can, whatever assistance he needs. And the same with Norcom; any assistance they need, I’ll be more than happy to give it.”
Matthew Hatfield has covered football and basketball since 2004 for VirginiaPreps.com, part of the Rivals.com Network, and is a staff writer for Tar Heel Illustrated. Check out Hatfield’s Twitter page for more sports related updates, and you can also read his work in the Suffolk News Herald. To contact Matthew, please e-mail hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com, and don’t forget to listen to him every Saturday at 10 AM on ESPN Radio 94.1, plus watch him on the Cox 11 Sports Report.