HEAD COACH DONTE' JACKSON

Donte’ Jackson is in his fifth season at the helm at Grambling State University.

In his first season, Jackson guide the Tigers to their first SWAC Regular Season Championship in nearly 30 years (1988-1989). During the regular season, Grambling State enjoyed the nation spotlight as being one of the teams in NCAA Division I with the longest winning streak, which got as high as 11 games before a loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Jackson, which saw the team finish at 17-14 overall and 13-5 in SWAC play, earned several accolades, including SWAC Coach of the Year, NABC District 23 Coach of the Year and the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year honor. In addition, Ivy Smith, Jr. was selected to the All-SWAC First Team, BOXTOROW All-American Team and a NABC District 23 Second-Team honoree.

Prior to GSU, Jackson spent three seasons as the head men’s basketball coach at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

In his first season at Stillman, the Tigers finished 17-10 overall and 13-6 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) en route to a first-place regular-season finish in the conference. The Tigers were especially tough at home, ending the year with an 11-1 mark.

Jackson’s second year was Stillman’s most decorated season in school history. The Tigers finished 27-6, won the 2016 SIAC Championship Tournament and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament, where they defeated West Georgia in their first-round game. Jackson was named SIAC Coach of the Year, as well as BOXTOROW National Coach of the Year. Additionally, his team produced the SIAC Player of the Year, as well as Newcomer of the Year.

In June 2016, he was named interim athletics director and spent the year leading both the athletics department and the men’s basketball team. Despite the added duties, Jackson’s team performed very well on the court. The Tigers surpassed 20 wins for the second consecutive season (22-5) and had a 10-2 record at home. Stillman led the nation in margin of victory, defeating opponents by an average of 28.6 points per contest. The Tiger offense, which averaged 86.7 points per game, finished second in the country in field goal percentage (52.6%).

Prior to Stillman, Jackson led the men’s basketball program at Central State University (CSU) in Wilberforce, Ohio for four seasons. He took over the program in 2010 after serving as an assistant coach at CSU for seven seasons.

During his tenure as head coach at CSU, he went 68-42 and averaged 17 wins each season, including a 19-9 mark during the 2011-12 campaign. While serving as an assistant coach at CSU, he helped guide the Marauders to an NCAA tournament appearance and three Independent Conference Association regular-season titles. The team went 125-61 during those seven seasons.

Jackson graduated from CSU in 2003 with a bachelor’s of science in education, and in 2008, he earned a master’s of science in educational leadership. He was a three-year letterwinner on the Marauder basketball team and earned all-conference and all-region honors during the 2001-02 season. He led the Marauders to the NAIA Division I National Tournament and a Sweet Sixteen appearance with a 24-8 record during 1999-2000 season. Jackson capped his stellar career by being selected as the recipient of the John W. Garland President’s Award, presented annually to a student-athlete who embodies the highest standards of leadership, integrity and sportsmanship through academic and athletic achievements.

Jackson is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and attended Alexander Hamilton High School. He was an All-City Conference player and received all-state honors his senior year of high school. Prior to attending Central State University, Jackson played one season at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (NCAA Division I).