BATESVILLE, Arkansas - Lyon College Athletics and the Lyon College Football Scots welcome Chaddric Jackson, Zak Wahlstrom and Jeremiah Taylor as new assistant coaches for 2024.
Jackson, who is originally from Dallas, Texas will be the Assistant Defensive Back Coach;Wahlstrom comes on board as the Tight End Coach; and Taylor will coach the Scots' running backs.
"I'm thrilled to be joining Lyon College," Jackson said. "With a robust coaching background spanning multiple prestigious institutions and high school programs in the DFW area, I bring a wealth of experience and passion for the game."Graduated from Benedictine College and Southwestern College, playing football at the NAIA Division I level. At Benedictine, I was honored as a First Team All-Conference defensive back/corner back, contributing to our team success in reaching the NAIA National Championships Final Four in 2002."
Jackson transitioned into coaching in 2009 as a Graduate Assistant at Benedictine College, following a rewarding career playing in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Lubbock Renegades and Dallas Desperados He continued his coaching journey at Benedictine College, Incarnate Word University, and at seven different 6A high school programs across the DFW area.
"My coaching philosophy revolves around mentorship, skill development, and instilling a culture of discipline and teamwork," Jackson said. "I am committed to fostering both athletic and personal growth in every player I work with beyond the gridiron, I have a passion for cooking and enjoy meal prepping to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Family is my cornerstone, and spending quality time with my kids and loved ones is my greatest joy. Looking ahead, my long-term aspiration is to continue coaching football until I'm 70 years old, with a goal of working at the Division I level. I am eager to contribute my expertise and enthusiasm to Lyon College and its football program. I'm excited to embark on this new chapter at Lyon College and am eager to connect with the Lyon community, players, and fans alike. Let's work together to achieve new heights both on and off the field!"
Zak Wahlstrom went to college at the University of Central Arkansas.
"I bring a unique coaching journey and a deep passion for football to the Lyon community," Wahlstrom said.
Wahlstrom started his coaching career at Hanford High School when he was 18 as the safeties coach for two seasons. He took on an international coaching opportunity in the German Football League as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Leipzig Hawks. Wahlstrom continued his coaching path as a student assistant at UCA, where he worked as the safeties and bandits coach for two years, then coached overseas again in Poland with the Bialystok Lowlanders as the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator.
While at UCA, he and teams won the Southland Conference title in 2019. He was on the team as a coach when the Lowlanders captured the Polish League National Championship in 2022. He joined Hendrix College as an assistant receivers coach before coming to Lyon.
"Although my playing career ended sooner than expected due to injuries, I cherish the time I spent on the field," Wahlstrom said. "My coaching journey began with my father, who brought me along to film summer ball camps. I quickly fell in love with the game and was offered a coaching position shortly after. I approach coaching with high energy, focus, and meticulous attention to detail. Each training session is designed to simulate game-day intensity, preparing players for every scenario. My ultimate aspiration is to coach and compete at the highest levels of the sport, aiming for the league. Coaching isn't just a job for me; it's a lifelong passion. I wake up every day eager to inspire and develop the next generation of football players. I believe Lyon College football is poised for growth and improvement. With dedication and hard work, we can achieve great success together.
I am thrilled to join Lyon College and look forward to making a positive impact on and off the field. Let's achieve greatness together!"
Taylor played at Hendeson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
"I am thrilled to be joining the Lyon family," Taylor said. "With a diverse coaching background across various levels and institutions, I bring a deep passion for football and a commitment to developing athletes on and off the field."
Taylor's coaching journey began with a volunteer opportunity at a youth camp for Arkadelphia High School. Impressed by my interaction and coaching style with the kids, the Head Varsity Coach invited him to join his staff. In 2015 served as junior varsity linebackers coach at Arkadelphia High School and in 2018 moved to varsity running backs coach, junior varsity head coach and defensive coordinator fo the spring scrimmage at Arkadelphia High School, In 2021 Taylor became the defensive line/quality control coach at Fort Scott Community College, and the next year was the running backs coach at Virginia University of Lynchburg. Most recently, Taylor was the running backs coach at McKendree University.
Some of his coaching accolades include a 4A State Arkansas Football State Championship with Arkadelphia in 2017. Taylor also achieved notable defensive honors at Fort Scott Community College and had offensive successes at Virginia University of Lynchburg and McKendree University.
"I have a solid playing background," Taylor said. "Three-time varsity letterman in high school as a linebacker, Played linebacker at Yuba College (CA), Continued at Henderson State University. I emphasize film study and purposeful drills that directly translate to on-field success. Efficiency and effectiveness are key in player development.I have a sweet tooth for chocolate, and I'm a big fan of Scooby-Doo!
"My ultimate aspiration is to become a Head Coach in the NFL, driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence in coaching and leadership," He continued, "I envision a program at Lyon College that is characterized by consistency, efficiency, and a relentless pursuit of improvement both on and off the field. I look forward to contributing to the rich football tradition at Lyon College and inspiring our players to achieve their highest potential. Go Scots!"
