Howard School of Academics and Technology girls' basketball and track coach Stanley Jackson has not been rehired by the school. Jackson coached the track team each of the last two years, guiding the Lady Hustlin' Tigers to the program's first Class A/AA state championship in more than 20 years. The girls' basketball team finished 10-12 last season in his first year as head coach.

Jackson has been hired to teach and possibly coach at Brainerd. According to Brainerd principal Charles Joynes, Jackson will teach physcial education and he will interview Panthers' football coach Marvin Jones as well as girls' basketball coach Carolyn Jackson and girls' track coach Eddie Lambert about the possibility of Jackson joining any of those staffs as an assistant.

There is a discrepancy between Jackson and Howard athletic director Mark Smith over the reason for Jackson's departure. According to Jackson, he was told to reapply for his job but to list several other schools he would be willing to transfer to. Smith contends once he discovered Jackson had applied at Brainerd, he took steps to replace him.

"He thought he could teach at Brainerd and coach here, but that's not how I want things to work here," Smith said. "I didn't feel comfortable not having a head coach in the building. I need him available on a second's notice.

"We weren't looking to replace Stanley at all. He was my assistant in basketball and I knew he's a good coach. He's an outstanding track coach."

Dexter Bell, who coached the 21st Century girls' middle school program last year, has been named the Lady Tigers' new basketball coach and Jennifer Mitchell, who was the track assistant last year, assumes the head coaching position. Mitchell also coached the track program prior to Jackson taking over.

"I never received formal notification that I wasn't the girls' basketball coach anymore," Jackson said. "It's not uncommon for someone to teach at one school and coach at another. I get out at 2:15 at Brainerd and Howard doesn't let out until 4, so I could still get to the school in plenty of time not only for practice but to make sure the kids are doing what they should with their grades.

"It's embarrassing for me as a black coach to not be brought back to a predominantly black school where I've had a lot of success."

Jackson, who had taught PE the last four years at Howard, was a football assistant his first two years at the school. Prior to coming to Howard he served as an assistant at Brainerd from 1996-2004. During that time he worked as both offensive and defensive coordinator for the Panthers while teaching at Dalewood.