Coach Eric Jackson, Jr.,37, has finished his 11th collegiate season, and 1st year at Edward Waters University. In that season, Jackson lead the Lady Tigers to a 16-9 record while finishing 3rd in the East Division of the SIAC. During the season, Jackson recruited and developed Newcomer of the Year and All-SIAC 3rd Team Selection Mia Morel. The 16-9 overall record and the 12-7 record in conference play were both the first winning records as a member of the NCAA Division 2.
Jackson also spent eight seasons at the helm of his alma mater, Rust College. While at Rust, Jackson finished with a record of 147-42 making him the winningest coach in Women’s Basketball history and finished ranked 23rd in the nation during the 2019-20 season. In addition to posting the first back-to back 20 win seasons in over 35 years, Jackson has recruited and coached 2 NAIA All-Americans, 5 All-Conference players, the 2019 GCAC Freshman of the Year and the 2020 GCAC Player of the Year. At the end of the 2020 season, Jackson received the GCAC Coach of the Year finishing with a historical record of 25-6 after being picked to finish 6th out of eight GCAC teams in the preseason poll. During the 2020-21 season, Jackson led the Lady Bearcats to a 13-2 record (5-1 in GCAC play) and a GCAC Regular Season Championship. This is the first championship in any sport at Rust College since 1984. With a national ranking as high as 19th, the Lady Bearcats were also rated as the number 1 defense in the Country as they allowed only 49 points per game. From 2021-2024, Jackson secured 3 consecutive GCAC tournament Championships, Regular Season Championships, and GCAC Coach of the Year Awards all three years. During the 2023-24 season, Jackson became the Winningest Coach in Rust College Women’s Basketball History with 147 wins.
Prior to returning to Rust College, Jackson spent a 2-year stint in the high school ranks coaching Varsity girls' basketball at Westside High School in Jacksonville, Florida.
During his tenure at Westside, Jackson improved the team from a 2-20 record, to 12-10 in his first year with the same roster as the year before. Westside finished 2nd in their district and made the State Playoffs for the first time in 20 years. The following year, Jackson led Westside to a 20-5 record and brought home the school’s first district championship.
Prior to his stop in Florida, Jackson spent 3 years at Concordia College-Alabama in Selma, AL. In three years, Jackson finished with a record of 59-26, with a record of 13-11 his first season in 2013. The following season, Concordia finished with a record of 20-11 and won the USCAA Division 1 National Championship. The 2014 National Championship Team was also inducted into the USCAA hall of fame for winning the championship as the 8th and final seed of the Tournament. During his final season at Concordia, Jackson finished 26-4 and broke school and USCAA national records with most consecutive wins with 26. Additionally, Jackson was the first recipient of the USCAA Women's Coach of the Year Award. The Lady Hornets also finished ranked number 1 in the National Coach's Poll the entire year and finished the year honoring 3 first team All - Americans and the USCAA National Player of the Year.
Coach Jackson was raised in Holly Springs, Mississippi by way of Paterson, New Jersey. He was a part of the back-to-back (2003-2005) Boys Basketball State Championship teams at Holly Springs High School. Jackson is also an Alumni of Rust College where he received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He is the oldest of 3 children (Ariana and Jordan) to Eric Sr. and Shelley Jackson and is currently married to Rasheedah Jackson
