CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — After 20 years of donning the purple and white of Pickerington Central, and then two years of donning any color of his choosing in retirement, Jay Sharrett is back in black – and red.  

“It’s difficult to put on black after Pickerington North on the other side of the school district but my wife said I have to get over it and that’s what I’m doing,” he said with a laugh.  

It’s definitely not the first time Sharrett has worn the red and black of Circleville High School. In fact, it’s a color pairing that runs deep in his soul.

“I mean, I’m from here,” he said standing in the middle of the Circleville high school gym. “I want to make sure that [the players] get that same experience that I did. I mean, the coaches molded me, sports molded me and I want to convey that to them maybe. You know, I didn’t think. I don’t know if it’s given back, but if I could get them to experience some of the stuff that I was fortunate enough to do, I think I’ve done my job.”   

There is no question that Sharrett is very good at his job as a football coach. He had a 211-42 record while the head coach at Pick Central including 17 league titles, two state titles (2017, 2019) and the Tigers were state runners up in 2020.  

He said he was also very good at retirement: traveling to see his former players at the next levels of their careers as well as internationally with family to places like Ireland. So, it was going to take a special job to get him back on the sidelines.  

“When the call came from Circleville, we’re like let’s do this again. Now, how many years I’m going to do it? I don’t know, but we’re gonna wind it up, have fun with it and enjoy it,” he said. “The chance to coach football again, to coach your alma mater, to help these young men move up to that next level of winning. And I’m hoping, you know, we did it at Central and I’d love to to replicate that here at Circleville. And both of them are Tiger football. So that’s been really, really good.” 

“He’s wanted to get in here. He’s so excited. He’s already working with people in the community with different projects for the team. And you know, he knows a lot of people from here, so he’s already getting going on things,” said Circleville athletic director Brandon Wright. “He’s bringing a wealth of knowledge that they’re going to get really quickly. And to bring that here to Circleville will be great for our kids.” 

While Sharrett has shown success in football with results, it’s the other kids of success that he wants to make sure he gives to these young men – the next generation of Circleville Tigers.

“Some of the seniors a year from now, they could be the military, they could be 4,000 miles away from anybody who loves them. They could be in the workforce. They could be going to college, and I think football instills that toughness, at least it did for me,” Sharrett said between shaking hands with parents and his new players. “And I hopefully can provide that type of thing for them. And if I do that, then that’ll be a job well done.”