In the 104 years of Greenwood Football, there have been just nine coaches to command the sidelines. At the start of the 2026 season, it will be 10. Since 2013, Jason Gill has been a part of the Greenwood Football program. Coached in Fordyce by former Greenwood assistant coach Jim Cox, which culminated in two state championships. Coach Gill went on to serve as an assistant coach under Clay Totty during his run of state championships at Rison. From there, Coach Gill went to Mansfield, just south of Greenwood. At Mansfield, he coached the Tigers to their first Conference Championship and a 47-33 record in his seven seasons. Then it was on to Greenwood. Coach Gill started as the Junior High head coach, earning back-to-back Conference Championships.
For the 2015 season, he was promoted to Defensive Coordinator under then Head Coach Rick Jones. A position he has held ever since. Along the way, he coached not only his son, Parker Gill, into a standout linebacker but also a Bulldog defense that held teams to a touchdown or less in 44 games. Including a three-game streak of holding a highly potent Lake Hamilton offense to zero points. For his work as the Defensive Coordinator, he received the 2024 Broyles Award, Arkansas High School Assistant Coach of the Year.
“I’m really excited with Coach Gill taking over. Obviously, we’ve been successful here at a level that hadn’t been seen. [at Greenwood]” Athletic Director Chris Young said. “I think Coach Gill is definitely prepared for this. He’s worked under three State Championship coaches.”
“He’ll be able to pull from each of us, I think that he’s worked under, and he’s had good experience as a head coach.” Chris Young added.
Since Chris Young took over a dual role as Head Coach and Athletic Director three years ago. Coach Gill was tasked with taking on a more Head Coach role when Coach Young was handling other duties.
“It’s something that probably all coaches think about, taking over a program like this. It’s awesome for me. I’ve gotten to experience and see two great head coaches here. I just hope that I can live up to that standard.” New Head Coach Jason Gill said.
“I’ve coached at other places. I was a Head Coach at Mansfield. I was happy here. I was happy my families here. I could have went and been a Head Coach somewhere else. But, I don’t know if it was in the plan, but if it ever came up, I was willing to step in.” Coach Gill said. “Coach Young has taken on a lot, he took on the AD, so over the last 2 or 3 years, he’s transitioned some of the stuff that he usually took care of.”
“He put that on me, and he’s talked about he’d walk away one day. I didn’t think it would happen, but it’s happened. Probably quicker than he wanted.” Coach Gill added.
Coach Jason Gill starts Spring Practice at 6am on May 4th and will be looking to fill several key roles, but has a large crop of returning players, especially on defense.
