Clarksville Academy names APSU assistant as head coach

Clarksville Academy watched last month when its head coach departed to take over Rossview High's football program. Last week, the school saw an assistant coach leave to head up Northeast High's football program.

Now, the Cougars get a chance to introduce the future of Cougars football. Clarksville Academy hired former Austin Peay assistant coach J.D. Sellers to take over the Cougars football program Friday morning. Sellers spoke in front of Clarksville Academy football players and some of the student body.

"New energy is always a great thing," Clarksville Academy athletics director Jake Peterson said. "J.D. is going to bring that. That's what we're excited about, and we know he's excited about that, too. He's anxious to get to work and I know our kids are as well."

Former coach Todd Hood accepted the Rossview High football position last month and his Cougars assistant, Chad Watson, was named Northeast's football coach last week.

Sellers said he hasn't had the opportunity to think much about how he will fill out his coaching staff but plans to meet each football player and coach "one-on-one."

"This all became final (Thursday) so next week, that will be one of the first things I get on," Sellers said. "I want to find out what their goals and aspirations are. I want to know them as a student and what their football goals are. Some will have aspirations to play college and that was a big part of me being able to take this position because I have that background and I know what it takes."

Sellers finished his second year of his second stint as the Govs’ running backs coach and was Austin Peay’s second-longest tenured assistant coach. He shifted to the quarterback coaching position in Spring 2013 after serving as running back coach for both the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Last season, he moved back to working with the running backs.

He takes over for Hood, who guided the Cougars the past seven seasons, including six straight Class A state playoff appearances. But Sellers will usher Clarksville Academy into Division II football. The Cougars will compete in the West Region if D-II as its travel expenses will increase. He'll also have to manage a high school football team that naturally will have lower roster numbers at the small private school. But Sellers is confident he can increase those numbers.

Sellers was a three-year quarterback at Austin Peay under Rick Christophel and as an assistant he held the title of quarterbacks coach, running backs coach, director of football operations and recruiting coordinator. He also served as the team's interim head coach during APSU's transition from Kirby Cannon to Will Healy.

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports. 

COACHING PROFILE

J.D. Sellers

​Age: 29

From: Baxley, Ga.

High School: Apling County High School

College: Austin Peay (2005-09)

Coaching experience: Austin Peay student assistant (2007-09); Running backs coach (2011-12, 15-16); Quarterbacks coach (2013-14), Recruiting coordinator; Interim head coach (2015).