SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio - It did not take Jarvis Gibson long to get football back into his life. Gibson, 38, was named as the new football coach at Shaker Heights on Friday. He coached the past two seasons at St. Peter Chanel, but resigned in November following a 2-7 season, citing internal challenges. Gibson's team went 4-5 in 2009.
SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio - It did not take Jarvis Gibson long to get football back into his life.
Gibson, 38, was named as the new football coach at Shaker Heights on Friday. He coached the past two seasons at St. Peter Chanel, but resigned in November following a 2-7 season, citing internal challenges. Gibson's team went 4-5 in 2009.
At that time Gibson said he was not actively seeking another coaching position, but was open to offers. He said informal talks with Shaker Heights Athletic Director Don Readance eventually turned serious.
"We sat down and talked, and one thing led to another," said Gibson. "I wasn't going to do anything but do things around the house. I knew one day I'd get back into coaching. Things just fell in place."
Gibson coached five seasons at now-closed Cleveland South, leading the Flyers to their only playoff appearance in 2007. His record was 30-14 at South.
Gibson will replace Anthony Watkins, who has been with the Shaker Heights football program for 18 years. He served as head coach the past three seasons, going 9-21.
Watkins has been the boys track coach for 10 years and will remain in that post, as well as working as an assistant football coach under Gibson.
"The dynamics of being a dual head coach becomes overwhelming," said Watkins, 46, who will coach the linebackers. "Win or lose, coaching has a lot of demands. I'm going to take a step back."
Readance also announced former Benedictine coach Art Bortnick and one-time Chanel coach Bill Powers have been hired as the defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively.
Shaker Heights has been to the playoffs eight times, mostly recently in 2005.