Coaches ready to hit the field

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Assistant coach Renardo Jackson returned to Mobile Monday night, after the shooting spree last week.

“In my mind his face was a blur,” said Jackson. “It seemed like I never forget the silhouette. But it was almost like from the start of the situation, I saw everything about him but it was a black spot over his face.”

Coach Jackson told FOX10 he was shot four times and required surgery. He said the gunman first shot him in the knee. After running inside the bar, Jackson was shot in the leg, groin, and hip as the shooter opened fire on the building.

“The proximity was so small. We were right up on the gun,” he said. “I was just trying to get inside to get away from him.”

Assistant Coach TeBarius Gill returned home last week after he was shot once in the back, just above his right hip.

“That was a scary point because I was thinking like, ‘This can't be happening.’ But it can happen to anyone,” said Gill.

The coaches were in Tuscaloosa for a UA training camp, when they went to the Copper Top after a ‘Coaches Social’ that night.

Gill and Jackson said they are looking forward to getting back out on the field with their Vigor players for practice sometime in August.

“I'm just going to play the mental game, right now, until I can get back out on the field as far as x's and o's are concerned,” said Jackson.

“I enjoy coaching so I'm looking forward to being back on the field with my guys. I know they miss me,” said Gill.