There will certainly be a different feel to the Nashua Silver Knights next season.

In case you missed it this past week, after 11 years, manager and former pitching coach Kyle Jackson will no longer be a member of the Silver Knights organization – his choice.

And that is a shame.

But it’s not hard to understand.

Jackson was back and forth on the idea after five years as manager all season, and then he had a conversation with Worcester manager Alex Dion during the All-Star break. Dion, like Jackson, has two very young children and felt the time away from them during the summer was simply too much.

And that got Jackson thinking, and thinking harder than he figured he would. So last Monday he walked into general manger Cam Cook’s office and said he was done.

“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.”

That’s because it took a tragedy for it to happen, actually. Tom Bowles was the pitching coach back in 2013 and was on board to return to the team in that capacity for the 2014 season. But when he didn’t show for a pre-season meeting with then-manager and VP of Player Personnel B.J. Neverett, concern was raised and it was learned Bowles had passed away suddenly of a heart ailment.

Neverett quickly had to find someone, and knew of Jackson, the Alvirne alum and former Red Sox farmhand who had been the Nashua South JV coach. Deal done, and Jackson has been a part of the organiztion ever since, first as pitching coach and then succeeded Neverett as manager in 2020.

The ups and downs came a lot as manager. He guided the Knights to two FCBL titles, but the team has missed the playoffs in three of the last four season, the last two in a row.

Yet his track record was solid, there was no thought that we can tell that management was thinking of a change. But Jackson evidently was, and the team’s social media content late this week provided an outpouring of tribute and appreciation.

He’s been class all the way. Always eager to talk about his pitchers when he was out in the bullpen, and answered all the tough questions after games, etc. Everyone around the Futures League liked Kyle Jackson, for sure.

Jackson knew the parameters of summer ball for college players. The pressure of competing for their school was off, but an FCBL summer brought a new pressure in a for-profit league in which franchises wanted to win, especially in Nashua. Still, he would make sure the players got what they needed out of the experience.

At the same time, he always had the pulse of his teams. In 2022, his team reeling and looking lifeless after a mercy-rule loss to Worcester in the first game of a doubleheader, he gathered them together in the locker room and told them they could go in two different directions: One, take it like a casual summer league, get their at-bats and innings, and so be it. Or two, start playing like they cared, playing for a playoff spot, and see what happens. The players chose the latter, won Game 2 and went on a winning streak that put them back into the race – and an eventual championship.

He did the same thing a couple of times this past season, with two instances when he felt the team’s approach was lacking. While that brought the competitve level up, the results overall didn’t occur as the Knights missed the playoffs by 2.5 games.

This was a social media post late this week by the Nashua Silver Knights, showing appreciation for manager Kyle Jackson, who stepped down after 11 seasons witht the team. (Photo courtesy of Nashua Silver Knights)

This was a social media post late this week by the Nashua Silver Knights, showing appreciation for manager Kyle Jackson, who stepped down after 11 seasons with the team. (Photo courtesy of Nashua Silver Knights)

He always had the players best interest at heart, but the organization’s as well. Jackson always reminded the players that the fans were paying to see them play. A tough balance, but for the most part he pulled it off.

“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.”

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.”

For certain. Jackson’s favorite moments, he said, were the first title in 2016 when he was pitching coach, as the team upset Worcester in a two-game sweep, and also the title won two years ago in Vermont.

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

It certainly is.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on X (formerly Twitter) @Telegraph _TomK.