Scott City picks new coach with little time to spare

Scott City moved quickly to fill its vacant head football coach position by promoting first-year assistant coach Jackie Johnson in a special school board meeting Wednesday night, five days before the start of preseason practices.

Johnson, the head coach at Caruthersville High School the past four years and defensive coordinator the three previous years, had served as the interim head coach after the recent resignation of Jason Burkman.

"For about the past two weeks it's been a whirlwind," Johnson said. "I was shocked when it came about. I came in looking to be the defensive coordinator and get back in the routine of things as an assistant coach. All this came about. I'm looking forward for a great challenge being the head coach."

The district found itself in an unexpected position of looking for a head coach with the surprising departure of Burkman, who asked to be released from his contract for family reasons. Burkman, the father of four children, coached at Scott City for one year and led the Rams to a 4-6 record.

Johnson was an assistant coach for the East team at the Missouri Lions Club All-Star Game a couple weeks ago when he learned Burkman was going to step down.

"I got a call from him, and he told me the situation at that time," Johnson said. "He had some family problems. It must have been severe enough that he had to leave."

Johnson compiled a 12-28 record at Caruthersville before coming to Scott City as an assistant. His duties also include serving as head coach for the Rams' track and field program.

"We're happy to have somebody who has a lot of experience as a head coach," said Scott City superintendent Diann Bradshaw. "We were fortunate in that matter to have somebody like that on our staff."

Also Wednesday, the board hired former Perryville head coach Jerry Tucker as an assistant to Johnson.

Tucker, who will also teach physical education, currently is the only assistant football coach on the staff. The team had three paid assistants last season but cut back to two this year due to budget constraints. Bradshaw said the district is looking for a second assistant coach who would not have a teaching position.

Johnson had to lead the team's camp last week by himself. Originally scheduled for two weeks, the camp was reduced to four days of workouts.

"The kids have not let what happened faze their vision as far as what they're wanting to accomplish," Johnson said. "The kids are hungry and wanting to win. Scott City has always been a pretty powerhouse football program. And we're going to line them up and see what we can do."

jbreer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 124