Maurice Jackson becomes first Black football coach at Aquinas: Here's what to know

Aquinas has a new varsity football coach and the hire is historic.

Maurice Jackson was introduced Tuesday at the private school on Dewey Avenue in Rochester as the replacement for Derek Annechino. Jackson becomes the first Black coach to run the team, according to Aquinas records that go back to 1930.

This is also Jackson's first chance as a high school head coach, and it's happening at one of the most well-known and successful teams in the area. Aquinas has won eight state championships, a record, and 15 Section V titles.

"If you look back at their history, Aquinas has chosen the right guys for the job because they are the No. 1 football program in the state and they've won a lot," Jackson said. "To say that they have been picking people based on race has no basis.

"They obviously have won. That's what it's about, having the right guy in place. They can back that up with what they have done. But I am aware that I'm the first Black head coach or person of color (who is the head football coach at Aquinas). I'm excited about creating that history."

Aquinas athletic director Anthony Bianchi was happy history was made, but said they hired the top candidate without considering their ethnicity. In fact, Bianchi named plenty more Black coaches across Aquinas' many modified, junior varsity and varsity sports programs.

"The fact that he's African-American is amazing, and is indeed an honor, but we felt like we were hiring the best guy," Bianchi said.

Jackson, 43, is not new to Aquinas. He was an assistant football coach at the school last season. He also worked with receivers on a volunteer basis at University Prep, which is also in Rochester.

"He's going to be great with the kids," Annechino said. "They will be in good hands."

Roster changes coming?

Jackson said he's already began making changes that he hopes will return the Little Irish to their winning ways after an uncharacteristic 3-5 record in 2022.

He is busy building a coaching staff and making plans for players to switch positions. Adding talented new players to the roster will also be important.

"It's my job to make the program as attractive as it can be," Jackson said. "Hopefully with … myself coming over here, and the style of football we're going to play, we can start to get some more players in that will help us get back where we need to be."

Where is former Aquinas coach Derek Annechino going?

Annechino decided around Thanksgiving he wanted to coach at another school after six seasons as the Aquinas varsity coach. A 1989 Aquinas graduate, the team won the 2018 Class AA state championship, two Section V titles and played in four sectional tournament finals with Annechino.

"I got to win a state champion with my son. We were successful,” Annechino, 51, said.

He plans to be an assistant coach at a school in the Monroe County league this upcoming season, his 26th at the high school level.

Maurice Jackson's background includes co-owning a training facility

Annechino said Jackson is already a "great coach."

"If I had stayed 'Moe' was going to be the offensive coordinator," Annechino said. "That was planned."

Jackson runs a speed and football skills school and is co-owner of The Speed Factory training facility.

"He’s a professional, it's the way he teaches," Aquinas assistant coach Bill Harmon said. "You watch the way he runs his own business. He brought his kids to one of our meetings and you watch the way he parents.

"I've been coaching since 1986. It's rare that after five or 10 minutes of talking to someone you say, 'This guy knows what he's doing.' "

Maurice Jackson has decorated career as a player

A Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester co-Player of the Year in 1996 at Marshall in the Rochester City School District, Jackson went on to play at Syracuse University. He was inducted into the Section V Football Hall of Fame in April. He also played professional football, including spending time in training camp with the Buffalo Bills.

"I also coached at SUNY Morrisville for two years, and I coached at the University of Rochester for five," Jackson said.

Jackson said that he brings a knowledge about football that is "advanced for the high school level" and this is a win-win arrangement for Aquinas and him.

"This will be my third year (at Aquinas)," Harmon said. "It’s different. With Aquinas comes the expectations of winning in the past, and we’re dealing with that. Yeah, it's different but the kids are great. It’s worth it.

"There is not a way this is not going to be positive. If we are going to lose, it's because we are not as good as everybody else."

What the players said

Jackson wasn't hired just for his football mind.

"I think Maurice will be great at developing our talent, and also helping them develop as people," Bianchi said.

Four Aquinas football players attended Jackson's press conference. They all spoke highly of him.

Trent Hill, Aquinas senior: "I'm really excited with the hire of coach Moe. The knowledge he brings on both sides of the ball, at any position, is a great addition to the game. And I love how involved he'll be with academics. That's a very important part of what we're trying to build here."

Lucas Leone, Aquinas sophomore: "I love coach Moe. I work with him outside of school. I love his ideas for football and his style of play. I think he teaches great things about the game and I'm so excited to have him."

Ben Newman, Aquinas sophomore: "Coach Moe came in last summer and you could tell he had great intentions for the program. He's been very successful on many levels of football, whether it's high school, collegiate or professional. I'm just blessed and happy that he's part of the coaching staff."

CJ Robinson, Aquinas sophomore: "I'm just really excited about coach Moe and this upcoming season."

"Quite frankly our players are ready," Jackson said. "That year probably helped us a lot, letting those players know what it's going to take to get back to the winning ways."

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New Aquinas football coach Maurice Jackson