The new football coach at Brainerd High School is a familiar face.
Stanley Jackson, who led Brainerd’s program from 2010 to 2012 and was an assistant for last season’s team, has been named head coach of the Panthers once again.
“When I started working at this school, it was to serve the kids,” said Jackson, who began teaching and coaching at Brainerd in 1995 and has also coached girls’ basketball, track and field and wrestling. “I live in this community and consider myself a part of the fabric of Brainerd. I love the school and the kids here and want to help develop them not only as athletes but also make sure we’re getting those wins in the classroom, too.
“We’ll focus on discipline, character and work ethic because those are the things that make you successful on and off the field. It took longer than a lot of us wanted to get this done, so we’re behind where other programs are, but we’ll look to continue to build on the direction the program has been headed recently.”
Before a new football coach could be named, Brainerd first had to fill its vacant principal position, which it did last week when Crystal Sorrells was hired.