NASHVILLE, Ark. — Shawn Jackson and his family will be packing their bags as they make the move from Hayti, Missouri, to Nashville.
Jackson was named as the assistant athletic director and head football coach of the Scrappers on Friday. Jackson graduated from Hayti High School in 1989 and returned as head football coach in 2023 where the Indians went 1-8.
The Nashville Board of Education voted Jackson in as the new skipper with a tally of 4-1.
Superintendent Doug Graham, Assistant Superintendent Tate Gordan, Athletic Director James Bunch Nichols and high school principal Ashley Riggs each agreed to recommend Jackson for the position.
The Scrappers went 8-4 last season and made it to the second round of the playoffs.
Jackson holds a mark of 66-61 over his 20-year high school football coaching career. He is no stranger to the Natural State as Jackson had a stint at Crossett in 2020 and 2021. During his two-year span, he had a record of 15-6, including back-to-back trips to the Class 4A quarterfinal playoffs.
The new Scrapper coach then left Crossett for Cadillac, Michigan, in 2022. The Vikings finished at 5-5 and Jackson left for Hayti, Missouri.
He has coached in Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Jackson first coached at Blytheville High School in Arkansas while finishing his degree at Arkansas State University in 2004.
Nine applicants applied for the job at Nashville and eight other candidates, who did not submit a resume, were contacted by the school.
The other members of the Jackson family are wife Abbie, adult son Cole (who lives in Hayti, Missouri), son Kellon (a high school junior) and son Conner (a high school freshman).
Jackson replaces Mike Volarvich, who won a Class 4A state title in 2015. Volarvich finished with a record of 78-23 withe Nashville (won 76 percent of the games) over his nine seasons as head coach, had a semifinal appearance and made it to three quarterfinals with the Scrappers.
Jackson said that his offense and defense will be based on the specific skills of the players in what they do the best.
Graham said Jackson has a great love for children and has knowledge in every main aspect of creating a long-lasting, successful program. He also said Jackson is the one to teach the children what it means to be a Scrapper.
Jackson said Nashville is a destination opportunity for him and his family.