Wayne Coleman Tabbed As Jacksonville’s Next AD + Head Football Coach

The Jacksonville Indians have a new athletic director and head football coach, the school district announced Monday.

Longtime coaching veteran Wayne Coleman, a former assistant under ex-Jacksonville head coaching great Danny Long, will take over the football program following Chris Taber's resignation after three seasons.

Coleman served as Jacksonville's offensive coordinator from 1991-96 under Long, during which time the Indians compiled a record of 37-30. Coleman was an assistant head coach at Gilmer in 2014, helping lead the Buckeyes to the Class 4A Division II state championship.

“The JISD Indian Nation is proud to announce coach Wayne Coleman as Jacksonville's new athletic director/head coach," JISD superintendent Dr. Chad Kelly released in a statement. "Coach Coleman's past experience with JISD brings a familiarity of our traditions and high expectations of the entire athletic program. We are proud he chose Jacksonville as his new family home. We look forward to his leadership and more than welcome him and his family to our team.”

Coleman will be the fourth different head coach at Jacksonville since Long departed following the 2002 season. The Indians were 8-23 under Taber and have not enjoyed a winning season since 2010, or captured a playoff win since 2004.

Jacksonville, which was 4-6 in 2014, competes in the ultra-competitive District 16-5A, which features Corsicana, Ennis, John Tyler, Lindale, Lufkin, Nacogdoches, and Whitehouse.