Varsity football coach Minoso Rodgers was fired this week after three seasons in which the team won just five games.
The decision, announced in a statement from Athletic Director Patrice Arrington, comes nearly three months after the conclusion of the 2023 season and created chaos and uncertainty around the future of the team.
The team has been holding off-season weight-room training since November and was set to begin outdoor workouts within the coming weeks. But in light of Rodgers’s firing, full-team workouts were canceled until further notice.
The Tigers went 1-9 in 2023, contributing to a 5-27 overall record under Rodgers. First year athletic director Patrice Arrington announced Rodgers’ firing in an email to the JR community on Jan. 30. In addition, the rest of Rodgers’s coaching staff was let go as well.
In the email, Arrington thanked Rodgers for “the work he did shaping our program and mentoring our young men. Coach Rodgers is a valuable member of the Jackson-Reed family and will continue contributing to our school’s mission as our Restorative Justice coordinator.”
But Arrington added that, “after careful consideration and debate, and with the goal of elevating our Tiger program further, we have decided to take a new direction with the coaching staff for the upcoming season.”
Rodgers took over as head coach in March 2020. He rebuilt the team after COVID, but couldn’t produce a season over .500. The decision to replace Rodgers is aimed at snapping that streak and reviving a once-winning program. Arrington and the Athletic Department declined to comment beyond the statement.
In an interview with The Beacon, Rodgers said he was disappointed to be relieved of his duties but committed to his players’ success both on and off the field.
“I’m here to support the class of 2025, and all the other young men behind them,” said Rodgers. “Academically, as a mentor, as someone who they want to get on the board and talk football with, and also helping them to get into college. Making sure I help keep their name out there in front of colleges, and if schools come in to speak well of them.”
Even with the athletic department parting ways from Rodgers, the impact is felt by players. “To me coach Rodgers is a mentor, leader, motivator, hard worker, and a great coach,” said junior left tackle Noah Person. “He has helped make me into the player I am today.”
Junior running back and outside linebacker Aidan Giles added, “Rodgers was a huge influence to me before I had started workouts with the school. It’s not just on the field I’ve learned from him, but also off the field as well. Rodgers has helped me become a better man and gain confidence from working with him over the past three years. It’s unfortunate what happened but I can honestly say that what I’ve learned from Rodgers will help me in life, he’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.”
In her email, Arrington said the search for a new head coach has already begun. The department hopes to name Rodgers’ successor for the football program soon, ahead of the 2024 fall season.
This is a developing story; as more details emerge, this will be updated.
