Even after his recent departure from Brainerd High School, Levar Brown’s influence will continue to be felt throughout its athletic program.
Always the planner, once Brown realized a few years ago that he would soon step away from coaching to begin working in school administration, he reached out to a pair of former Panthers players he believed had the potential to become mentors as coaches.
Over the past two seasons, once those two hand-picked potential successors returned home, both proved themselves to be capable of overseeing basketball programs. So that plan — and Brown’s vision — became reality Friday, when Brainerd named Reggie Jackson as its new head coach for boys’ basketball and Dajuonta Ross as its new head coach for girls’ basketball. Jackson will also serve as athletic director, taking over both sports roles Brown left behind.
“Brainerd High is excited to announce new leadership for its basketball programs,” Crystal Sorrells, the school’s principal, wrote in a text message. “Both coaches are proud alumni and have been closely connected to the basketball program in recent years. Coach Jackson and Coach Ross bring a deep commitment to BHS basketball and a passion for mentoring student-athletes. Their shared legacy and dedication promise to inspire and elevate Brainerd basketball for seasons to come.”
Jackson, who graduated from Brainerd in 2003, has been a physical education teacher and a boys’ basketball assistant coach for the past two years. He takes over two weeks after Brown stepped down to accept an administrative position at Hixson High School.