Rose is leaving Chiefs

Mark Rose, one of the Chattanooga area’s most successful football coaches, resigned Tuesday evening from North Jackson High School in Stevenson, Ala.

Rose, 41, will take over the football program at Smiths Station, an Alabama Class 6A school near Phenix City and Columbus, Ga.

“This has been the most gut-wrenching decision of my life,” said Rose, who noted that the Smiths Station offer was a significant pay raise. “The people at North Jackson took me in like family, and I want to thank every player that paid the price to make it a special program. It’s football the way it ought to be played — hard-nosed and with a lot of passion.

“Even though it will be an exciting challenge eventually, right now is a very sad time for me because the last eight years have been the best of my coaching career. I feel like I’m leaving my family.”

Rose led the Chiefs to four 10-0 regular seasons and an 85-15 overall record in those eight seasons; they were 54-2 against region opponents with seven region championships. The Chiefs were 4A state runners-up in 2002 and reached the semifinals in 2001.

“The things he did while he was here are immeasurable,” said North Jackson first-year principal Sam Houston, who was a football assistant at the school for 12 years. “Mark is a great leader, and this is a devastating blow to me personally because he’s like a brother to me.

“It’s no secret how important football is to this community. With Mark you knew he would maintain what needed to be done to keep the program at the level that’s expected. But the biggest thing was he prepared the kids to be better men when they left this school.”

Since the school opened 20 years ago, North Jackson has the highest winning percentage and the most overall wins of any area program. The Chiefs have had only three head coaches in that time.

Rose was the defensive coordinator at Smiths Station from 1994 to ’97, helping the Panthers to the playoffs each season. The program has had only one playoff season since. Rose replaces former University of Alabama linebacker Woodrow Lowe, who coached the Panthers for three seasons but never had a better record than 6-5.

“It never entered my mind to leave,” Rose said. “But I got several calls from people I knew at Smiths Station who were on the search committee, wanting me to come interview. Once I did and they offered the job, financially for my family I couldn’t turn it down.”

Rose, who was 7-1 against county rival Scottsboro, has had at least one Division I-A signee each of the last five years.

The school will begin taking applications immediately. Co-defensive coordinator Shawn Peek, who has been a head coach at two other programs, is one likely candidate.

“We’re still going to be successful,” Houston said. “There are a lot of people who are wondering what we’ll do next. With the love I have for this place, I’ll do whatever I can to make sure we stay at the top.”