By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Another Kent Roosevelt Rough Rider is coming home.

Kardell Jackson was officially announced as the Kent Roosevelt football head coach on Tuesday.

Jackson graduated from Kent Roosevelt in 2014 and played football through his junior season under legendary John Nemec.

Jackson, who attended Ashland University, missed his senior season of high school football because of a torn ACL.

Jackson’s coaching career began at Roosevelt as an assistant coach, and he has spent the last four years as an assistant coach at Stow High School.

The Roosevelt football job was an attractive one and received plenty of attention.

In total, Roosevelt athletic director Ben Dunlap confirmed that the district received 36 applicants.

The district’s 13-person committee, which included both staff and community members, narrowed down the search before ultimately selecting Jackson.

“We were simply blown away with Kardell’s articulation of his plan for the football program as well as the student-athletes at Roosevelt,” Dunlap said. “His love and passion for our community and his love for student-athletes was so apparent.

“Everyone we reached out to simply raved about him and the relationships he builds with everyone around him,” Dunlap said.