It didn’t take Rick Jackson long to name his successor as Madison High School’s head football coach.

Jackson, who is also Madison’s athletic director, stepped down last week after 21 years as the Warhawks’ football coach. On Monday, he named longtime Madison assistant Kenny Nears as the new head coach.

“He’s a man of principle,” Jackson said of Nears. “He’s committed to the culture we’ve built at Madison, doing things the right way. He’s a great leader of young men. He has an infectious personality and is someone I know will keep the continuity of our staff.”

Nears, who turns 46 on Wednesday, was the first coach Jackson hired when he took over the program in 2004. Nears has coached at Madison for 10 years and was the offensive coordinator last season.

Nears said he was “overwhelmed” by Jackson naming him his successor.

“He taught me everything I know,” Nears said. “He taught me how to break down film and lead. I thank God for the opportunity.”

Nears, who graduated from Kearny High School in 1997 and was a wide receiver at San Jose State, has been a head coach at Kearny and Mission Bay. As Kearny’s head coach from 2010 to 2014, the Komets went 15-37. He coached at Mission Bay in 2017 and was 0-10.

“Truthfully, I think he was brought into a couple of situations where he didn’t have the support that’s necessary to be successful,” Jackson said. “I will be doing everything I can to help him as athletic director.”

Regarding his 15-47 overall head coaching record, Nears said: “The crazy part about the record is that’s what people judge you off of. They don’t see you out there every day, putting in time with the kids.

“I’ve been through the fire. I’ve got the recipe for success here. The best part is I’ve got Rick still here. I can walk around the corner if I need help and ask, ‘What do I do in this situation?’”

Nears teaches in the special education department at Madison.

Madison gets a break next season when it moves away from Lincoln and Cathedral Catholic in the Western League and into the Eastern League. The Eastern League includes Madison, Christian, San Diego, La Jolla, Point Loma and St. Augustine.