UPDATED: Driggers leaving South Side for Peabody, Hawks name interim

The latest domino has fallen in the rural West Tennessee football coaching ranks as South Side's Jason Driggers informed his team Tuesday morning he was leaving the Hawks effective immediately.

Driggers' exit from South Side is an indirect result of Ricky Woods' exit from Trenton Peabody last week for Starkville High.

Driggers is good friends with Woods' replacement, former Peabody defensive coordinator Shane Jacobs, and Jacobs talked Driggers into making the move to the defending Class 2A state champion.

"This is the hardest professional decision I've had to make," Driggers said. "There's a group of 18 seniors coming back to South Side this season who have worked their tails off this offseason, and I hate to leave them at this point.

"But I was given an offer that was really difficult to pass up."

South Side principal Anita Tucker said she doesn't fault Driggers or offensive coordinator Jay Taylor — who took the same position at Peabody — for leaving.

"Is the timing good for us and our kids? No," Tucker said. "But at the end of the day, if they both think this is the best move for them and their families, you've got to understand that and appreciate it."

Tucker was adamant the Hawks' program will continue to build through this situation.

"South Side football will continue on," Tucker said. "These boys have put in the work and are getting ready to play football when the season gets here, and they will still do that no matter who's on the sidelines coaching them.

"We have three assistant coaches remaining who are all committed to South Side football."

Tucker confirmed assistant coach Brian Moore will be the interim coach when summer workouts begin next week. Brent McNeal, who joined the football staff in the offseason and will continue to coach the Lady Hawks' basketball team, and Tyler Reeder will lead the team through workouts until the next head coach is named.

Driggers has been the head coach at South Side the past two seasons, leading the Hawks to respective records of 3-7 and 1-9. He will work on Jacobs' staff as defensive coordinator.

"Shane and I have never worked together, but we've been good friends since he was in college and observed me in the classroom for a semester," Driggers said. "He's from Cullman, Ala., and my quarterback when I played at Bethel was from Cullman, so we kind of hit it off from there.

"Our philosophies are pretty similar when it comes to coaching the defense. Depending on how he wants things run, there may be some changes in terminology, but other than that, why change things up when they're already working pretty well. You can't make things work much better when you have a team coming back with a state championship."

Jacobs said he's glad to have Driggers on staff with him.

"Jason has been around and worked with some good coaches around here like Jerry Hayes, Dan Bland and Carey Craig," Jacobs said. "I know him well enough that I can trust him with our defense and know it will be in good hands through the summer program and into fall camps. Plus his experience as a head coach will be very valuable as well."

Driggers said in addition to leaving the athletes at South Side, leaving the program's supporters including parents and the school's administration wasn't an easy decision.

"I told Mrs. Tucker about the offer and how I think I should take it, and we talked for a little while about it and then we hugged each other at the end and wished each other luck," Driggers said. "I appreciate working for her so much because she's done nothing but supported this program."

Driggers isn't the only addition to the Peabody staff from South Side. The Golden Tide also are getting South Side's offensive coordinator Jay Taylor.

"I've been around Jay enough to have a good idea of what we're getting with him on the staff," Jacobs said. "He's got plenty of quality experience working with Jason the last two years and working for Wade Comer up at McKenzie."

Taylor said he appreciates the effort he's gotten from the offensive athletes at South Side, but just like Driggers, he couldn't pass up on the opportunity at Peabody. Woods called the offensive plays the last two years along with serving as head coach.

"Those kids at South Side work hard, and I hope they're successful this year," Taylor said. "I'm going to miss them, especially the seniors who bought into the offseason program and have worked hard to have a winning season this year."

One more addition Jacobs is making to the Tide's staff is Steve Mathis, a highly-regarded defensive line coach who's been at Ripley with Carey Craig the past two years after working at South Side with Craig and moving on to Humboldt under Bland.

"Steve will be another great addition to our staff," Jacobs said. "With these guys on our staff along with the guys we have coming back and the athletes we have, we can hopefully stay competitive this year.

"I know this group is smart enough to not try to get too flashy and trust the talent we have on the field to get things done."

Interested applicants for the South Side job can call 506-2112.

Brandon Shields, 425-9751