On Jan. 30, Athletic Director David Gilmer and the Jones College Prep Athletic Booster Association announced that a tackle football team would be introduced next year.

Jones infamously went long without a football team, but after Gilmer and his team sent out an interest form last semester, positive responses helped propel the long-awaited tackle club across the finish line.

Head of security and soon-to-be football coach Frank Dickerson says that he and athletic director David Gilmer have been working together for the last year and a half to put together a football program for the 2026-2027 school year. 

“Knowing it would boost the morale of the students here at Jones, and also bring a new wave of spirited students to Jones,” said Dickerson.

Coach Dickerson has been part of football programs, such as the Walter Payton College Prep football team, and says he is ready to coach for Jones. 

“I have been coaching for over 14 years, and have coached in other public schools, so bringing that experience to Jones is overall very exciting for me,” said Dickerson. 

Gilmer is excited to bring football to Jones next year because it aligns with his vision of making the Jones athletic department one of the best in the city. 

“My goal is to make us as competitive and complete an athletic department as possible,” said Gilmer.

Gilmer says that football can impact many of the things at Jones that already exist because of how specific those can be to football. 

“So I think about how football impacts our cheerleading team, how football can potentially impact our band program.” 

CPS has several stadiums that the city owns, where games will be held, and practices will likely be held at the Jones NTA Field. 

“Ultimately, all of our games will be kind of far away from the school,” said Gilmer. Because of the distance issues, the school is working on a form of bus travel for students in order to bring them to the games, but it is not confirmed. 

Football is a big part of school spirit, and whether someone is a fan or a player on the team, everyone will feel the positive effect the football team will bring next year. Anybody who wants to join the football team should start getting ready now because conditioning is coming sooner than later. 

“Spring conditioning will start in the next couple of weeks.” said Gilmer.