Westwood tabs OC Lee Jackson as next football coach

Fort Pierce Westwood stayed in-house in selecting its next football coach, tabbing offensive coordinator Lee Jackson to replace the outgoing Jeff George Jr., the school announced Monday afternoon.

Jackson played at Ole Miss and upon graduation received a Master's degree at Ohio University before beginning his coaching career. At various stops in Mississippi, the Georgia native was the offensive coordinator at Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines for five years before taking the same role at storied Carter High in Dallas.

After seven years in Texas, Jackson guided the Panthers' offense this past season as Westwood went 7-2, including its first playoff win in 10 years with a 28-0 win over Middleton. The opportunity to take his first shot as a head coach is something Jackson leaped at once given the chance. 

Previously:Jeff George Jr. resigns as Fort Pierce Westwood football coach

"It's a phenomenal feeling. I was truly blessed to get this opportunity at a great school district in St. Lucie County," Jackson said. "I'm extremely excited. It's a unique, special place, it's a combination of a rural area with an inner-city vibe and I have experience coaching in a different types of areas."

Jackson becomes Westwood’s ninth coach since 2007.

George had success with the Panthers, winning a 14-6A championship in his first year. Westwood’s only regular season loss in 2020 was to Vero Beach before losing 31-21 to Palmetto in the second round of the playoffs. George was 14-5 in two seasons at Westwood. He leaves to take the head coach position at Davenport High School, a new school opening in Polk County this fall.

Stability and continuity are two things Panthers AD James Gardner is hoping Jackson will bring, while also keeping momentum in competing against the Treasure Coast's top football programs.

"We need consistency with all the turnovers we've had with the previous coaches. My son is a senior on the team and he's had three different head coaches," Gardner said. "We wanted to try and get the best fit for Fort Pierce Westwood. Lee came in last year, the offense improved considerably and hopefully he's able to continue doing great things."

Jackson said he is going to retain most of the staff from last year's team, helping with continuity.

With James Monds, one of the top athletes in the Treasure Coast, along with rising senior quarterback Maurice Smith, Jr., optimism is high for the Panthers this fall.

Westwood has 10 out of 11 starters returning on offense and seven starters back on defense.

It gives Jackson a good start as the Panthers enter a new district in Class 7A that includes local foes Martin County and Sebastian River.

"We built up a lot of momentum last year," Jackson said. "We want to continue that momentum, keep building and try to take the program to the next level. We're not the new kids on the block being in the playoffs last year, we're looking forward to continuing that and it'll be tough in a new district but we are going to be up for the challenge."