West Mesquite head coach Stephen Jackson has been named as the next head coach at Lancaster High School, Lancaster ISD announced on Wednesday.

He replaces Leon Paul, who stepped down shortly after the conclusion of the 2025 regular season that saw Lancaster miss out on the playoffs with a 4-6 record.

Jackson has developed a reputation as a program builder in the DFW area. In his first head coaching stint at Seagoville for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he led SHS to back-to-back playoff appearances and a 7-4 mark in his final year at the helm.

“Lancaster has some great recent tradition," Jackson said. "I have big shoes to fill as I follow Coach Gilbert and Coach Paul, who have done a great job. It’s intriguing to take over at a place that has legitimate chance to win a state title.

In the spring of 2023, Jackson moved over to West Mesquite where he had instant success leading the Wranglers to a 22-3 mark in two seasons, including a trip to the regional semifinals in 2025 with an 11-2 record; it was the first time WMHS has played in the third round of the playoffs since 2010. Jackson led West Mesquite to back-to-back district titles. West Mesquite’s 11-1 mark in 2024 equaled the Wranglers win total for the previous five seasons combined.

"We have access to great talent in Lancaster," he said. "There’s great support from our administration, our superintendent Dr. Perera is a former college basketball player, so the importance of athletics comes from the top. Being in a one high school ISD is attractive; things are vertically aligned and we can implement the right away what it means to be a Lancaster Tiger."

Jackson, who was named to the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 40 Under 40 in 2022, has been an assistant coach at Duncanville - where he was part of the state runner-up team in 2021, Red Oak - where he was part of now Tarleton State offensive coordinator Chris Ross’ staff, and he’s worked at Wilmer-Hutchins and Dallas Carter where he was on staff under Hall of Fame head coach Allen Wilson.

“I have to thank (Mesquite ISD Athletic Director) Kody Groves for the chance," Jackson said. "He saw the work that was done at Seagoville when a lot of others didn’t. Coach Groves along with my principal at West (who is best principal I’ve ever worked for), they took great care of us and were a big part of the success along with some great kids and coaches." 

Jackson hopes to get started in an official capacity at LHS early next week.

“It’s going to be a busy time," he said. "I want to get my face out in the community, get to the middle school and in front of the team at the high school and just get to work."