Clarksville Academy promotes John Crosby to head football coach after whirlwind 24 hours

George Robinson
Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle

 Clarksville Academy had to move fast and in a little more than 24 hours promoted defensive coordinator John Crosby to head football coach.

Crosby was announced as the new coach Wednesday morning. He takes over for J.D. Sellers, who resigned Tuesday to take a high school assistant coaching job in Georgia, according to Clarksville Academy athletics director Jake Peterson.

"I'm excited about the opportunity," Crosby said. "This is something I think every coach works toward. You get a chance to run a program and that's something I couldn't pass up."

Crosby's hire almost didn't happen. He was close to becoming an assistant coach at Waverly, according to Peterson.

Last week Clarksville Academy assistant coach Micah Hughes left to become an assistant coach in Chattanooga. A few days later, Crosby informed the school he was set to leave Clarksville Academy. Sellers informed Peterson of his plan Tuesday morning.

"It was one hit after another hit after another," Peterson said. "So we had to work very quickly."

Peterson said it was obvious who Sellers' successor should be.

"The bond he has with our players, the kind of guy he is, the kind of coach he is ... it made our decision easy and when we told the players, they applauded," Peterson said. "It shows the kind of guy coach Crosby is."

This will be Crosby's first head coaching job, and the 2001 Battle Ground Academy graduate needed only a few hours to make his decision Tuesday.

Clarksville Academy's John Crosby is introduced as the new head football coach during a press conference Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at the school.

"I talked it over with my family, with my wife, and we felt this is a great spot," Crosby said.

"I know these kids. I was also the strength coach the past two years so the players will know what to expect there as well. It should be a smooth, seamless transition."

Sellers spent two years at Clarksville Academy. The Cougars finished his first season with a 3-8 record and were 6-6 last fall. However, TSSAA sanctions regarding the use of an ineligible player reduced that record to 2-10 after the Academy had to forfeit four of those wins. 

Sellers did manage to get the Cougars into the Division II-A playoffs in both years. They lost to Friendship Christian last November, 40-3.

New Clarksville Academy head football coach John Crosby greets students after his press conference Wednesday, April 24, 2019.

Sellers said he accepted an assistant coaching job near his home in Appling County, Ga., — over an hour southwest of Savannah — although he did not reveal the name of the high school.

"Out of respect for the hiring process and their HR department," Sellers said. 

Sellers said he turned down two previous coaching opportunities in Georgia the previous two years because "we had a good thing going at Clarksville Academy." But he felt a third opportunity was too enticing.

"Georgia is a great football state," Sellers said. "And it's home base for me. It's one of the best football states in the country and the chance to go back home and coach at a place where they are committed to football in terms of resources is just too much to pass up again."

Crosby inherits a team that will have a new face at quarterback after the graduation of Bryce Robinson, who will attend Austin Peay as a preferred walk-on.

"I'm excited to get to work," Crosby said. "We'll do a few things differently but not a lot will change. Our offense may work a little different but I'm a firm believer in you create a system that works with the players and talent you have."

Crosby coached at Nashville Christian where he was hired after graduating from the University of Tennessee in 2006. He served as Nashville Christian's defensive coordinator where he helped it capture a Class 1A state title in 2015. His defenses ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense in the state for four straight years while at Nashville Christian and helped the Eagles win 59 games in a five-year period.

Sellers said the school couldn't have made a better decision.

"They couldn't have found a better man," Sellers said. "I've said this before, coach Crosby is one of the best coaches in Tennessee."

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