Nashua Silver Knights manager Kyle Jackson, center, celebrates the team's 2020 FCBL title with GM Cam Cook, left, and team owner John Creedon, Jr. Jackson stepped down after five seasons running the team on the field. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – An era is ending with the Nashua Silver Knights.

Field manager Kyle Jackson, who has been with the organization for 11 seasons, the first six as pitching coach, has stepped down – entirely by his choice. He informed the team in a meeting with general manager Cam Cook on Monday.

“It’s just been a long 11 years with so many ups and downs,” Jackson said. “And you know, I’m always going to give my 100 percent no matter what.

“I just think it’s the right time. I feel like I’ve done enough for what I thought was never going to happen.”

Jackson, a former Alvirne High School standout and Boston Red Sox farmhand, first delved into coaching as the JV coach at Nashua South. He joined the Silver Knights at the last minute prior to the start of the 2014 season after then pitching coach Tom Bowles sadly passed away suddenly. Then,after manager and V.P.of Player Personnel B.J. Neverett retired after the 2019 season, Jackson was promoted to manager and he won a title right away in 2020. But he had to navigate the choppy waters of COVID and pulled it off. He guided the team to two FCBL titles, 2020 and 2022, but is coming off a tough season in which the team missed the playoffs for the second straight year, finishing 27-29, in sixth place, 2.5 games behind Vermont.

Cook said he wasn’t completely surprised at Jackson’s decision.

“Sort of having that week after the season ending makes you evaluate and think,” Cook said. “As much as he loves the Silver Knights, it can wear you down. It’s a long summer. He and I are friends and we chat throughout the season.”

Cook feels badly that the team didn’t get to “pump him up” during the season since the decision hadn’t been made, so the Silver Knights plan on honoring Jackson at the 2025 season home opener at Holman.

“Kyle stepped up for us back in late 2019 when Silver Knights giant, B.J. Neverett, retired,” team owner John Creedon, Jr. said in a statement. “Kyle then led our squad through the improbable COVID season in 2020, winning the championship that year.

“Then he led the team to win the championship again in highly dramatic, come-from-behind epic fashion in 2022. I am truly grateful not just for that, but also for Kyle’s steady leadership and stewardship of our players. Kyle has made hundreds of outstanding Silver Knights baseball players better through his coaching and Tutelage. He certainly now becomes a Silver Knight giant in his own right.”

Indeed, no one has been with the franchise longer.

“I think it’s good for a new turnaround for the team and the organization,” Jackson said. “I’m at peace. It’s going to be heartbreaking next summer, but I’m OK. … It’s good to leave on my own.”

Now the question is what’s next? It appears as if the organization will cast a wide net in finding a new manager. It’s not known if Jackson’s three coaches – Spencer Bergeron, Brendan Martin and Noah Wachter – are candidates or even interested in the job. In any event, Cook said “We don’t have the scope on anybody just yet, it wasn’t necessarily something we planned on. I appreciate him doing it as early as he did which gives us the whole runway to see who’s out there, see who’s interested and find the right fit to fill his shoes.”

The last time the Silver Knights went outside the organization to find a manager, they hired Ted Currle, who had coached at Brockton but also had managed Martha’s Vineyard (then in the league). Currle’s teams made the playoffs in his 2014-15 seasons but were eliminated in the first round in 2014 and semis in 2015. B.J. Neverett, who had managed the team to the 2012 title but then stepped back to just be a coach so he could spend time with his family while still procuring the players, returned to the manager’s seat in 2016 until he retired.

“We’re kind of exploring all the options,” Cook said. “When B.J.left, Kyle was the rightful heir to the throne. We really haven’t had to do a coaching search.

“We will talk to a ton of people.”

Jackson said “probably the biggest factor” was his two young sons, who will be 4 and 6 years old during the season.

“I want to be able to pick them up (from school) and have family vacations next summer,” Jackson said, “rather than waiting until the end of August. I want to be able to set things up with my wife.

“I think my patience has been very expanded, which I can bring home and bring to my kids,” Jackson said. “I honestly never thought I’d be a coach. When I retired (from pitching professionally) I didn’t want to have anything to do with baseball.

“It fell into my lap with B.J.and I loved going to the park every day, having my two cents. Especially as the pitching coach. … When you’re the manager, your vision has to be so much bigger of the all-around. And that helped me outside of baseball, looking at everything rather than focusing on just one thing.”

What advice would Jackson give the next manager?

“Get to know the season ticket holders,” Jackson said. “They will keep you around, they’ll have your back. And just embrace it, and be talkative. Don’t be closed off and keep an open mind to them. … They are the lifeline.”

When Cook arrived as a player midway through the 2016 season, one of the first people he met was Jackson, who helped guide him through some of the ins and outs of things.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Kyle,” Cook said. “We’ve been together eight seasons and shared some unbelievable moments together. He’s been an asset to the Silver Knights organizaton for a long time, and we look forward to giving him his proper recognition before the home opener of the 2025 season.”

It will be honoring a job well done and recognizing an era has ended.

“I think 11 years,” Jackon said, “is pretty good.”

(Silver Knights media relations staffer Dan Allison contributed to this report.)