Sterling College (NAIA - KS) Darren Jackson took an opportunity to interview for a step forward in his career recently, doing something that countless coaches do annually each off season.
Of all those that interview, only one ultimately gets the opportunity that everyone was gunning for, while the others go back to their jobs with the understanding that they were trying to better their situation for themselves and/or their family.
However, Jackson's story took an interesting twist today.
After interviewing for a head coaching job, sources share it was the opening at New Mexico Highlands (D-II), just over two weeks ago, Jackson was informed by the administration at Sterling today that he was being terminated.
Jackson shared a statement via social media to highlight the recent turn of events.
His side of the story lays out transparency on his behalf with his superiors at Sterling throughout the process, noting that he owed his family the due diligence of interviewing.
Jackson, a former AFCA 35 Under 35 selection, led Sterling to a 2-9 mark last fall, his second season leading the program. He went 2-8 in his first year.
Before arriving at Sterling, Jackson served as the head coach at Trinity Bible College and also previously spent time on the staff at Liberty.
The story has some parallels to Boston College's decision to part ways with Jeff Jagodzinski after he won 20 games and won back-to-back Atlantic Division titles in his first two seasons leading the Eagles in 2007 and 2008.
One big difference though. Jagodzinski was warned to not interview for the vacant Jets opening by AD Gene DeFilippo. He opted to interview anyway and fired the very next day. He ended up taking the offensive coordinator job with the Tampa Bay Bucs for a season and has bounced around a handful of spots since in spots ranging from Division III position coach, to UFL head coach (Omaha Nighthawks) and FBS offensive coordinator (Georgia State), to a high school play caller for a few seasons and even a stint overseas coaching the offensive line for the Wroclaw Panthers of Poland.
Jackson shares that he was nothing but transparent and never mentions any ultimatums given to him about interviewing from the Sterling admin, and he was still dismissed regardless.
Coaches reading this should see this as a cautionary tale on a number of different fronts that include complete and total transparency with administration, and also being sure to lay out on the table what could possibly happen a) if you're offered the job and b) if the job goes to someone else.
...and even if you check all those boxes, this story is a prime example that there's no guarantee that a you'll still be in your role a few weeks after the interview takes place.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.