North Side names Jerry Robertson as girls basketball coach

Even though the North Side girls basketball program has struggled over the past two seasons, the Lady Indians have historically been one of the best in West Tennessee.

On Monday, the North Side administration announced there is a new girls basketball coach that will try to lead them back to having winning seasons.

Jerry Robertson is taking over for Len Jeffries for the 2017-18 season after Jeffries announced his retirement earlier this year.

"I am excited to have Coach Jerry Robertson leading our North Side girls basketball program," North Side principal Jason Bridgeman said via news release. "I was impressed by the effort he could get out of the young men he coached at JCM. We always knew his players would give 100 percent because he is a natural motivator. Coach Robertson has expressed his excitement about building upon the ground work established by Coach Jeffries."

Robertson has 12 years of experience coaching at the high school and middle school level. He recently coached at Jackson Central-Merry in its final season before moving to Jackson Careers and Technology Middle School this past season.

But Robertson said he always likes a challenge.

"I have been watching this team and seeing how hard they play, but they aren't getting the results," Robertson said. "I truly believe that this is going to be a challenge."

North Side has won two games over the past two seasons.

"It might be a slow process, but you have got have players," Robertson said. "I think that once we get on the same page, we can make progress towards winning more."

With team summer camps coming in June, Robertson is ready to get started.

"Conditioning is always important," Robertson said. "We want to be conscious of our physical ability, and we hope that being in better shape than the other team once the season starts might help us."

Robertson was an all-state and all-region basketball player for Bells High School from 1974-76. He moved on to play for Jackson State Community College and UT-Martin.

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.