Jackson stepping down as boys basketball coach

Kevin Jackson has stepped down as head boys basketball coach at Vandalia Community High School.

His resignation was accepted by the school board at a special meeting on Tuesday night. He will maintain his roles as athletic director and driver’s education teacher.

“Priorities change over time,” Jackson said. “I still love to compete with the guys that we have here, but priorities change.

“It was an extremely, extremely difficult decision.”

Jackson leaves the position with “100-percent support” from his family after accumulating five winning seasons in six years with Vandalia. His career won/loss record was 99-73.

He won a regional championship during his first season with the Vandals and had a pair of 20-win seasons.

“I never thought this day would come,” Jackson said. “I thought that this would go on forever, but things do change.

“This is what my dad and I have done, so it is a very, very hard decision,” he said. “I will be able to do things with our boys, and I am looking forward to that.”

Said Superintendent Rich Well, “We’re very appreciative of the time and effort that coach Jackson gave to the kids and the program. I know it was a hard decision.

“It’s hard to walk away when it's in your blood.”

Overall, Jackson was a head coach for 14 years. Prior to his time in Vandalia, he spent eight years with St. Elmo, where he compiled a 108-104 record.

This past season ended in excitement, but also in disappointment, as the Vandals made two comebacks to reach the regional championship game, but failed to win the title after they were defeated by Pana.

Jackson said he was proud that his players fought through that adversity, which included rallying from a nine-point deficit to beat Hillsboro in the first round and a 17-point deficit to beat Carlyle in the semifinals.

But the long season, which included a 15-3 start and a 5-7 finish, wore on Jackson, leading him to begin mulling his decision shortly after the season ended.

“The longer you do this, the longer it takes to bounce back after a season,” he said. “I haven’t really bounced back yet, and that’s not fair to these guys or to myself.”

He said it was the players who made coaching worthwhile, and when looking back, that is what he is going to remember the most.

“The No. 1 thing I will remember is that I have been able to establish some extremely strong and lasting relationships with players,” Jackson said. “That’s the most important thing when it’s all said and done.

“The one thing our kids always did was play very hard,” he said. “I’m extremely grateful to the guys who have played for me the last six years.”

Well said the school will look to find the best available coach for the program, though the process may be a bit different since there are currently no open teaching positions.

Applications for the position should be sent to VCHS principal Randy Protz by next Wednesday morning.