It’ll be a bittersweet departure for Fair Grove, as head football coach and Assistant Principal, Jason O’Neal, will be leaving the district to accept a job as assistant superintendent in Rogersville. O’Neal, who arrived at the district in the 2008-2009 school year, started off as a physical education teacher, head football coach, and head track coach. From there O’Neal would become the athletic director after long time AD Tim Leeper retired in 2010. This past school year was O’Neal’s first as assistant principal at Fair Grove. O’Neal can easily be remembered for his reputation with the football program. As he’s led the team to undefeated seasons, and even playoff berths. While in the mean time, coaching football stars like Caleb Schaffitzel and Kyle Burger just to name a few.

You can, without a doubt, say he left his mark on the Fair Grove school and community. When asked about his impact on the Football program, high school Principal Mike Bell said, “Coach O’Neal and his staff have made a tremendous impact on our football program the past 6 years, going undefeated during the regular season on three occasions and advancing to the playoffs four of the six years of his tenure. The highlight of the past six years was the semifinal birth of the football team in 2008.”

O’Neal was also asked about the progress of the football program during his tenure, and he says, “Fair Grove football and the athletics program have come a long way in the past 6 or 7 years but that has had very little to do with me. A.D. and Coach, Tim Leeper, laid the foundation long before I came back to work at Fair Grove. The secret to our success has been a combination of the following: Great kids, great coaching staff, great school, great community, and adequately upgraded facilities.” O’Neal would go on to add, “One thing I am particularly proud of concerning the success of our football program is the number of undefeated 10-0 seasons I had the opportunity to be part of. I was fortunate to be able to play on the first 10-0 season in 1992 and was blessed to help coach three more seasons in 2008, 2009, and 2011.”

Class of 2012 graduate, and former running back Kyle Burger added his own comment  about O’Neal, saying, “Coach O’Neal taught me to give my all in everything I do while showing respect in the process and to praise God for whatever the outcome may be. He told me to lead when I was needed but also to listen when necessary. He had a huge impact on my life on and off the field, and everything he taught me will never be forgotten.”

2014 graduate and football player Colton Green, also said, “He taught me to not lay down and compete when it gets rough, but to stand like a man. He also taught me to respect everyone and demand respect for yourself.”

It wasn’t just football players that O’Neal impacted, he also made a great impact on the student body itself. When asked about what his greatest impact was on the student body, Mr. Bell stated, “Coach O’Neal’s greatest impact on the students of Fair Grove has been his commitment to character. He has served as a positive role model to our kids and expected his players to carry themselves as responsible citizens of the community.”

Taylor Davis, a recent 2014 graduate, added, “Mr. O’Neal is the epitome of what a man should be. He might come across as big and scary but he is one of the kindest, most caring, and genuine people I’ve ever met. It was a real blessing getting to know him.”

When asked what his favorite memory was during his tenure, Jason replied with, “Our timeout huddle at Warsaw just before scoring to take the lead late in the 4th quarter of the state quarterfinal game in 2008. The players and I had a special conversation in the huddle just before scoring to win that game. It was miserable freezing weather that day but the Fair Grove crowd was awesome and our town was thrilled to be moving on to it’s first ever football appearance to the final four.” As noted before, 2008 was a great year of football for the Eagles, as that semi-final berth proved so as much. Further more, when  asked if O’Neal  thought Caleb Schaffitzel could make the NFL, and he quotes, “Yes. Caleb Schaffitzel can do anything.” (Editor’s note: Schaffitzel was recently named a Pre-Season All American for the Missouri State Bears’ football team.)

O’Neal will surely be missed throughout the community and school in itself.  A few students also wanted to chime in on wishing Jason and his family good luck, as Kinzie Williams stated, “I wish you the best of luck at Rogersville. I know you will make a positive impact on many lives there as you have at Fair Grove. Thank you so much for everything.”

Sierra Gentry also added, “Mr. O’Neal, you have been such an inspiration and have had such a great impact on this community. We love you and your family! I wish the best for you guys, and hope God continues to work through you and your family!”

O’Neal himself also wanted to add a few thankful words saying, “Thank you to Coach Tim Leeper, Mr. David Hunter, and Dr. John Link for hiring me six years ago to come back home and coach football. It has not only been an honor, but a real dream come true to be the head coach of the same football program that made such positive impact on my life all those years ago. Thank you to our players for wearing purple with pride and representing our school and community with excellence and class. You guys are, and will always be my best memories of F.G.” O’Neal went on to thank his family, as well as former coaches: Barney Crawford, Greg Werner, Tim Leeper, Steve Dodd, and Dwain Banner for the positive influences they were, and continue to be in his life.