Jackson fired as North Salinas coach – Monterey Herald

SALINAS – Three weeks before the start of the basketball season, longtime North Salinas girls head coach Darren Jackson was fired after 24 years.

Jackson, the second-winningest girls basketball coach in Monterey County history, achieved 469 wins during his more than two-decade tenure at North Salinas. He was the longest-serving girls basketball coach in the county.

“You wronged me,” Jackson said. “Calling me to the principal’s office so late and firing me on Friday afternoon without explanation. The principal just told me, ‘You know why’.”

According to Jackson, he has no idea why he was fired. In fact, he signed his contract in August and did offseason strength training with prospects.

“I feel like I was discriminated against and treated unfairly in North Salinas,” Jackson said. “I was treated like a child. It’s crazy.”

North Salinas Principal Mary White issued a statement via text message.

“North Salinas would like to thank Coach Jackson for his years of service as head basketball coach,” White said. “His dedication and passion have left a positive impact on our student-athletes and helped them develop on and off the field.”

In 24 seasons at North Salinas, Jackson posted 22 season wins, 12 league titles, including seven straight Gabilan Division titles, and three Central Coast Section Division I titles.

Last winter, the Vikings struggled with growing pains and went 3-21 overall, leading to a move to the Mission Division this season.

“I just met her (White) last week,” Jackson said. “She said everything was fine. I have a contract. I want to know what has changed? I deserve an explanation.”

White declined to elaborate on the decision.

“We wish Coach Jackson all the best in his future endeavors and thank him for his contributions to the Viking athletes,” said White.

Jackson is the winningest coach in any sport in North Salinas history. He is just 31 wins away from becoming the sixth varsity coach in a sport in the district to record 500 wins.

Former King City coach Ken Kline is the county’s all-time girls basketball leader with 524 wins, which ranked 10th all-time in the state at the time of his retirement a decade ago.

Other coaches to have more than 500 wins in their careers include Monterey baseball coach Michael Groves, Salinas basketball coach Joe Chappell, Notre Dame softball coach Joe Given and King City volleyball coach Debbie Hudson.

“I’ve been working with these kids in the weight room for over a month,” Jackson said. “I had a disagreement with the sports director. But that wasn’t a reason to fire me.”

“North Salinas is very grateful for his many years of service,” said first-year North Salinas athletic director Marcus Northcutt.

Winter sports officially begin on November 4th. It’s uncertain who will take over the job this late unless a Jackson employee steps in.

“It seems like it was planned,” Jackson said. “I speak for what is right. I’ve already had parents call me. But I never had a problem with the children.”

Jackson was the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Gabilan Division champion in 2023 and coached the Vikings to back-to-back Central Coast Section Division I titles in 2014-15.

Between 2013 and 2023, North Salinas won nine Gabilan Division titles and finished second in the season in which it did not bring home a banner.

The Vikings won 182 games between 2013 and 2023 and posted a 26-2 record during the 2014 season when they fell in the Northern California State Division I semifinals.

For 24 years – not including the pandemic-shortened 2021 season – Jackson averaged 20 wins per season, one of the most successful runs of two decades in the CCS.

Jackson, whose coaching career began at Alvarez as a boys coach, will likely have to wait a year to get another coaching job since all of the county’s positions have been filled.

“If you wanted to fire me, why did you wait until now,” Jackson said. “I didn’t want to go anywhere. But if I’m not wanted, at least give me the opportunity to look for another job.”

Originally published: October 12, 2024 at 11:19 am