Jay Sharrett leaves lasting legacy with Pickerington Central football
One of the mantras Jay Sharrett preached to his players throughout his 20-year tenure as Pickerington Central’s football coach centered around unselfishness.
Specifically, it had to do with sending out the senior class on as high of a note as possible.
That focus proved to be the backbone for central Ohio's premier program the last two decades.
“Anyone who’s ever played for him knows when you leave this program that you’ll know two things: How important it is to play for your teammates, especially the seniors, and what it takes to win no matter how you have to get it done,” 2020 graduate Demeatric Crenshaw said.
Crenshaw saw that philosophy from both sides, starting at quarterback as a sophomore in 2017 when Central captured its first Division I state championship and also as a senior in 2019 when the Tigers won their second state title.
As news of Sharrett’s retirement announcement Dec. 8 began to spread, online messages of recognition ranged from former players to parents of former and current players to those who have watched as fans from a community that has become absorbed in the program's success.
“Coach Sharrett will forever be one of the best to ever do it,” 2009 Central graduate Jamie Wood, who went on to play for Ohio State, posted on Twitter. “The numbers don’t lie. He helped create a culture of success that afforded many young men like myself the opportunity to continue chasing our dreams at the next level.”
DeWayne Carter, a starting defensive lineman for Duke who graduated in 2019, tweeted: “Well-deserved coach! Forever grateful for you and all your wisdom over the years. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you!”
Jack Johnson led Pickerington to a 196-112-3 record that included four playoff appearances during the final 30 years that the district had one high school.
After the split into Central and North in 2003, Sharrett became Central’s first coach and upped the ante of the program's success.
The Tigers went 211-42 with 17 league championships, eight regional titles, three state runner-up finishes and two state championships under Sharrett.
“Just like anything that keeps you somewhere, (you remember) the relationships that you make and the friends you keep,” Sharrett said after announcing his retirement.
The Tigers were a state runner-up for the first time under Sharrett in 2006 when Chazz Anderson threw for more than 2,000 yards and Jordan Jarrell rushed for 2,185 yards and 28 touchdowns during a 13-2 season that culminated with a 26-7 loss to Piqua in Division II.
Then in 2011 while competing in Division I, a Central team led by right guard Jacoby Boren and defensive end/linebacker Taco Charlton lost to Cleveland St. Ignatius 34-13 in the state final to finish 11-3. Boren went on to play for Ohio State and Charlton went on to play for Michigan and is in his sixth season in the NFL.
Central put together a perfect regular season while going 11-1 in 2014 and then enjoyed one of the greatest five-season runs in central Ohio high school football history from 2016-20.
The Tigers were state semifinalists in 2016 and 2018.
During the 2017 championship run, they were led by Crenshaw, Carter, Xavier Henderson, current Ohio State starting defensive lineman Ty Hamilton and current Notre Dame starting wide receiver Lorenzo Styles Jr.
In a 56-28 victory over Mentor in the 2017 state title game, which gave Central a 14-1 final record, Henderson rushed for 153 yards and one touchdown and Crenshaw threw for a state-record six touchdowns. Henderson is a fifth-year senior for Michigan State who has started 40 college games at defensive back.
In 2019, Crenshaw threw for 14 touchdowns and rushed for 17 scores while being named the Central District’s Offensive Player of the Year. He now plays quarterback for Youngstown State.
Carter, Hamilton, linebacker Dom Marasco, running back Nick Mosley and Styles Jr. were among the key players as Central beat Cincinnati Elder 21-14 in the state final to again finish 14-1.
“Playing for coach Sharrett was different,” said Mosley, who rushed for 1,427 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2019. “He coached very efficiently and he was always about business. Everything he did as a coach was to win. He had everyone’s respect and if he told you something, you just know to take him seriously.”
Central was a state runner-up in 2020, going 11-1 as Mosley, Styles Jr. and quarterback Garner Wallace led the way as seniors.
The Tigers were regional runners-up in 2021, finishing 12-2, and reached a regional semifinal this fall while going 9-4.
Senior Kobi Gorman started on both the offensive and defensive lines throughout his four seasons and was a key leader the last two seasons along with senior and Pittsburgh commit Rasheem Biles.
“He is a tough coach that pulled the best out of you,” said Gorman, who has committed to Miami University. “He pushed us hard every day and knew how to build a true tradition of winning. I’m forever grateful for the lessons he’s taught me and the impact he’s had in my life. He wanted the best for his players and it’s always been that way.”
The only time Central didn’t make the playoffs under Sharrett was in 2005.
Sharrett is a 1984 Circleville graduate who went on to play for Capital, from which he graduated in 1988 with a degree in secondary education.
After spending two years as an assistant at Whitehall, he joined Johnson’s coaching staff in 1990.
Among those on the Tigers’ staff are a pair of former head coaches in Brian Haffele (Marion-Franklin from 2005-18) and Byron Mattox (Walnut Ridge from 2006-20) as well as longtime assistants such as Jeff Lomonico, Dave Bristle, Ryan Daugherty and Andy Takos.
Gorman was part of a 35-player senior class this fall for the Tigers, whose top returnee likely will be junior Terrance Alexander. He was the team’s leading rusher and also spent time at wide receiver and wildcat quarterback.
“Playing for him was a great experience and he made me sound, disciplined and humble,” Alexander said. “He will be missed. I (learned how) to become a great leader, go 110 percent, be determined and help the team win from him.”
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Jay Sharrett leaves lasting legacy with Pickerington Central
