Willie Jacobs has resigned as head football coach at Central Regional, athletic director John Scran said via email Monday afternoon.

Jacobs informed the administration and team that he will not return next season. A former player and assistant for the Golden Eagles before taking the head coaching job in 2013, Jacobs went 19-12 in three seasons and led Central to a share of the Class B South division title in 2014. It was the first division title for the Golden Eagles since 1994, and they also won their first playoff game in 20 years during the 2014 season.

Central's Willie Jacobs was honored as the 2014 Class B South Coach of the Year. (Photo by Scott Stump)
Central's Willie Jacobs was honored as the 2014 Class B South Coach of the Year. (Photo by Scott Stump)
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"Mr. Jacobs did a great job rejuvenating the football program," Scran said in a statement. "The athletic department and the administration at Central Regional would like to thank Mr. Jacobs for his years as an assistant and head coach for the varsity football program. We wish him luck and look forward to him continuing his teaching career at Central Regional."

Central had not registered back-to-back winning seasons since going 6-4 in 1998 and 1999 under Dan Duddy. Jacobs went 5-5 in his first season before going 8-3 in 2014 and 6-4 last season.

Central now has little time to fill the opening before summer workouts begin. The Golden Eagles are also moving from B South to Class A South this season to play in a division that includes defending sectional champions Jackson Memorial (Central Jersey Group IV) and Toms River North (South Jersey Group V), as well as sectional finalist Brick Memorial. The Golden Eagles do return one of the Shore Conference's top running backs, Mike Bickford, for his senior season. Bickford ran for a school-record 2,052 yards as a sophomore before rushing for over 1,500 yards last season.

 

Football editor Bob Badders can be reached at badders@allshoremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights. 

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