The school hired former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Quinn Gray. The 30-year-old Gray spent six seasons in the NFL, including the first five (2003-07) with the Jaguars.

“It’s truly a privilege and an honor to be part of such a great tradition here at Jackson,” Gray said. “Jackson reminds me of my old high school [Dillard] with its great tradition. The student-athletes here measure up and being able to coach at a school with such a great tradition is a great opportunity for me.”

He succeeds Kevin Sullivan who resigned to take over at Atlantic Coast, the new Duval County high school that opens in the fall. Gray, who is teaching physical education and health at the school, inherits a Jackson program that has posted consecutive 11-1 seasons.

Gray spent last season playing for Hartford in the United Football League after his NFL run ended after a year with Kansas City. This will be his first coaching position.

“When I retired from football, I automatically wanted to get into coaching,” Gray said. “I had volunteered at several different camps, and when I saw the job posted online, I submitted my resume.”

Gray has quite a family pedigree in coaching. His father, the late Otis Gray Jr., led Dillard to two Class 4A state championships (1986, 1989). Otis Gray coached NFL receiver Isaac Bruce, as well as Georgia head coach Mark Richt, who played for Otis Gray at Boca Raton.

“My dad’s influence on me was how he played a major role in the life of his players outside of football,” Quinn Gray said. “He had a true love for the student-athletes, and I will definitely bring that to this program.

“As far as styles, I can tell you we won’t be running the triple option. He was a down and dirty, three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust coach. That’s not my M.O. We’ll run a multitude of formations because of all the great athletes we have here.”

Gray was a standout at Florida A&M. He signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2002. Allocated to the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe he won a World Bowl before returning to the Jaguars as a backup.

He first saw action in a regular season game with the season finale against the Tennessee Titans in the 2005 season. He started four games in the NFL and threw for 13 touchdowns and five interceptions in his career.

Gray, who also had stints with the Texans and Colts, also ran for two scores.