By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
ROME, Ga. – Jason Howard built the Spring Garden football program into one of Northeast Alabama’s best in 18 seasons. Now he’s hoping the success he had at Spring Garden will carry over to his new head coaching venture at Coosa High School of Rome, Ga.
After spending three seasons away from football, Howard accepted the football coaching job at Coosa High School on Tuesday morning. He takes over for Geoff Cannon, who recently accepted the offensive coordinator’s job at Rockmart.
Coosa finished 4-7 in 2024 and 3-7 in 2025 under Cannon.
“I’ve just been missing it for a while,” Howard said. “The opportunity came up. When the position came open, and after talking with some people, I just felt led to apply for it.”
Although Howard has been out of coaching football since his last game at Spring Garden in November of 2022, he has taught at Coosa High School since the fall of 2023 and helped coach the Eagle basketball and softball programs.
“The Coosa community has really accepted me over here,” Howard said. “I’ve learned a good bit being able to step back and see how other people run things, see how other people run a program. I learned a lot from Coach (Joey) Mathis who was over here. He’s been a part of some championship programs. I’ve been able to be around him and talk to him. It’s given me a different perspective on how to do some things. I’m excited to mesh some of the ways I did with some of the new ideas I’ve picked up on over the past three years also.”
“Coach Howard is more than an accomplished coach — he is a community builder,” Coosa High School principal Kristen Martin said in a statement released by the school. “His heart for kids and his commitment to helping them grow as athletes and as people make him the perfect fit for Coosa High School. We are thrilled to welcome him into this leadership role and look forward to the positive impact he will continue to have on our students.”
Howard had a tremendous impact coaching football in Alabama.
In 20 seasons as a head coach, Howard compiled a 134-93 overall record, including a 16-12 mark in the playoffs. He spent two of those years at Ohatchee (2010-11), his alma mater.
In two terms at Spring Garden from 2003-09 and from 2012-2022, Howard went 129-78. Under Howard’s guidance, the Panthers posted six 10-win seasons, including five straight region championships. They went 10-2 in Howard’s final season with the Panthers in 2022.
The football field at Panther Stadium was named in Howard’s honor on Feb. 4, 2022. He was inducted into the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame in June of 2024.
“Spring Garden was great to me and always has been,” Howard said. “That was a great time, and I love that community, love that program, love that school. I was in Montgomery last night with Coach Rat (Ricky Austin) for his induction into the (Alabama High School Sports) Hall of Fame. That community will always be part of my family, but I’m excited to be involved with the community over here and build those relationships over here also.”
Coosa competes in Class 6-AA with Armuchee, Bremen, Darlington, Heard County, Model, Mt. Zion, and Pepperell. They open the 2026 football season against Murray County on Aug. 21.
“It’s a different monster over here,” Howard said. “In Alabama, we’d be the equivalent of a 4A or 5A school. We’re in there with some really, really good programs. Pepperell was in the state semifinals last year. I’m still familiarizing myself with a bunch of those teams, a bunch of teams in the region. I can’t wait to get started.”
