COLUMBUS, Ohio — Westerville North football has created a buzz this fall- with former Ohio State quarterback Stanley Jackson taking over as head coach and bringing some other former Buckeyes onto the coaching staff.
What You Need To Know
- Former Ohio State quarterback is the new coach of the Westerville North Warriors
- Jackson brought on several other former Buckeyes, including Reggie Germany, Beanie Wells and Ashanti Webb
- The team has started the season 5-1 after winning just three games last season
- Jackson hopes to help these kids become productive members of society, with playing quality football being a byproduct
Stanley Jackson will be the first to admit he’s not easy on his players.
“Hey, why'd you stop driving?" he asks one of his players during practice. "Keep driving them! Take him all the way to the goalpost!”
But that’s what it takes to bring a football team from 3-8 last season to a 5-1 start this year. And a stacked coaching staff doesn’t hurt either.
“I knew I could put together a collection of coaches that number one really understood the game, loved it, and wanted to coach and have a high pedigree because they played at a major division one college, primarily Ohio State," Jackson said.
Imagine being a high school running back being coached by former OSU and NFL running back Beanie Wells.
“I want them one to learn how to work," Wells said. "And I think before, they didn’t have that work ethic. I think it translated to how they played and how they performed. And I think right now we’re getting those guys to buy in, learn how to work, learn how to practice, and learn how to win.”
Or a wide receiver being taught routes by Buckeye great Reggie Germany.
“You’ll get a helmet sticker if you drive that dude way over there," Germany said to a player at practice.
That’s exactly what’s happening at Westerville North.
“The things that these guys are learning, very few high school coaches can teach that," Jackson said. "Because how many high school coaches have played at Ohio State and then gone on to play in the NFL?”
The staff also includes former Buckeyes Ashanti Webb, Winfield Garnett, Paris Long, Jamar Martin and Eric Smith- all coaching positions they played at a high level. For players, they say they’re thankful for this experience.
“It’s a blessing to be under a former NFL pro player," senior defensive end Brian Robinson said. "Just to learn from him, it’s a great experience not just for me, but for the team as well.”
But for Jackson and his staff, it’s about much more than winning.
“The guys can talk to these coaches about stuff after football," Jackson said. "What life is like and what I need to do to get on that path. Part of our goal is that we’re raising good men, that they’re going to be productive members of society. But that we are raising men. The byproduct of that is that they play good football."
“It’s a privilege one to be called a coach," Wells said. "I can go back to my childhood and remember all my coaches who helped me through the years. And I was able to take something from them and it translated to real-life situations and not just football. And that’s something I hope to give back to these guys.”
The Warriors take on Canal Winchester Friday night at home.