INDIANS' TOP CHIEFS BECOME A FIXTURE FOR JACKSON FOOTBALL

JACKSON -- When Jackson's football players suited up for practice the first time a few weeks ago, there were no surprises.

Every player, even the first-year players, knew what to expect.

Because it's the exact same every year.

Coach Carl Gross is going to handle the offense. Coach Van Hitt will handle the defense and coach Bob Sink will handle the linemen.

Death, taxes and the three coaches.

Jackson's coaching staff has been together longer than any staff in the area. The trio has an impressive 91 years of coaching experience between them. They have all been together at the varsity level since 1989.

"It hasn't been a surprise for kids for the last 20 years," said Hitt, who has been involved with Jackson football for 22 years, including the last 14 at the varsity level. "They know what we expect on the field and off the field. It's never changed."

Brandon Norman and Jerry Golden are Jackson's other varsity assistants and both played under the Jackson trinity.

"We're all loyal to Jackson football and loyal to each other," said Gross, who is 81-42 as a head coach. "I'm telling you, I'm the luckiest head coach in the state of Missouri. I've got the best assistants anywhere. I wouldn't trade any of my guys for anybody."

"One of the reasons for our success over the years," explained athletic director Kevin Bohnert, "is due to the experience and the number of years that they've been here. These guys, they're part of the tradition. Our kids not only learn football, but a lot of valuable things that apply to life."

Of the three, Sink has the most experience. He is entering his 31st season as a football coach at Jackson and his 34th year of coaching overall.

Sink, who is also the head track coach, says there are several reasons he's stayed in the county seat.

"There's been numerous offers during my coaching career to become a head coach," Sink said. "But I was happy to be where I was. It's a good community and a good place to raise a family and I just really like what I'm doing."

Hitt, a Jackson graduate, has been coaching for 32 years. He shared Sink's sentiments.

"I retired from teaching, but I still enjoy the football and the Friday night ballgames," Hitt said. "But I really think I enjoy being around the kids more than anything. "

Jackson has had a history of keeping coaches for long periods of time. Since 1960, Jackson has had five head coaches. But it's not just football, either. The Indians have veteran coaches in almost every sport. Jackson's basketball coach, Steve Burk, retired this past season after 20 years.

"It's a great place," Gross said. "The administrators I work with as a teacher and as a coach are super supportive and the board is too. And this is a great place to live."

"I went to high school and grew up here," said Hitt. "After coaching a while at other places, I ended up here. One good thing about Jackson is that they let the coaches coach. The administration's great and the town's great for letting you do what you do. It's such a community thing. A few years ago we weren't having a real good year, but they (fans) all still came. I'm sure people talk in coffee shops about us, but we don't hear any of that (negativity)."

With the same ideals, the same plays and the same discipline being taught year after year, the continuity gives the program a distinct advantage over programs where there is a high turnover.

"The hardest thing to do for a player is to play under a new coach every year," Sink said. "You can't ever get comfortable with the program and the scheme of things."

Added Gross: "Most of the players have grown up around us. Because we've been here so long, we know most of them since they were little kids running around on the field after games. They know what we're like before they ever show up. They know what to expect. They know we're going to holler at 'em sometimes and hug 'em sometimes."

After being together for so long, the coaches have developed a strong bond with each other and a deep trust in each other. But that doesn't mean that they haven't had their arguments.

"We definitely talk about things," Sink said. "We have our disagreements. If I don't like the way we do something, I express my opinion. It's not a deal where a guy is afraid to say what he thinks. That's healthy and the way it ought to be."

"It's not a deal where we worry about hurting feelings," said Gross. "We have arguments but nobody stays mad at one another. Everybody gets to contribute and that's the way I want it. I figure no bigger than my brain is, I need to use everybody else's brains too."