Jackson joins the Spartans in August 2024 as an assistant coach after spending the last five and a half years at Academy of Art University (ART U). He began with the Urban Knights in March 2019 as a volunteer before working his way up to director of operations and then being promoted to head coach cross country/assistant track coach in September 2021.
Continuing her outstanding performances in the 2024 ART U track & field season, Katharina Goetschl secured her first two All-America honors after breaking the program’s 3000m steeplechase record for a fourth time at Outdoor Nationals while adding a strong result in the 5000m. The efforts came following PacWest titles in both events.
With half of its total roster debuting this fall campaign, Academy of Art men's and women's cross country took important steps forward in 2023. Multiple Pacific West Conference Runner of the Week honors highlighted the Urban Knights' journey toward the postseason where both teams finished among the top seven at the PacWest Championships and two standouts, Katharina Goetschl and Grace Southern, went on to become All-West Region Team honorees.
Working to rewrite the program’s record book for the second consecutive season, the Urban Knights were led by Lisa Redlinger’s new top marks in the indoor 5000m plus the outdoor mile and 10,000m. An All-Region honoree alongside several of her distance teammates such as Grace Southern and Audrey Rosencrans, Redlinger joined that pair and Katharina Goetschl in contributing points to the women’s fourth-place PacWest finish which saw Goetschl crowned the 3000m steeplechase champion.
Each step of the 2022 Academy of Art men's and women's cross country season built more confidence as the Urban Knights steadily progressed through four meets comprised of strong opponents toward the postseason. Top-six performances by both teams at the Pacific West Conference Championships then gave way to more important experience at NCAA Division II West Regionals for two contingents of younger ART U squads poised to write the programs' respective next chapters.
Numerous new records fell for Academy of Art track & field in 2022 as Natalia Novak took over the top position in the indoor mile and 3000m and the outdoor 800m in addition to contributing to a new distance medley relay record. Novak added three more All-American honors to her resume that year along with a PacWest title in the 1500m. Meanwhile, Audrey Rosencrans added new program bests in the indoor 5000m as well as the 3000m steeplechase and 10,000m.
In 2021, the first Academy of Art cross country season in two years was a truly memorable one as the Urban Knights positively progressed to several historic achievements in October and November. The women's team achieved its first
Pacific West Conference title, they joined the men in collecting
All-Region honors two weeks later, and emerging from the women's first NCAA Division II Nationals appearance was the second
All-American in program history in
2021 PacWest Runner of the Year Natalia Novak. The campaign included Jackson being named
2021 PacWest Coach of the Year on the women's side.
Delivering some incredible performances amid a limited schedule and other challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Academy of Art track & field season triumphantly featured multiple individual NCAA Division II National Champions including James Young in the
indoor mile and
outdoor 1500m. In addition to Young’s new records in those events, top program marks were also delivered on the women’s side by Natalia Novak, the eventual
PacWest Most Outstanding Track Athlete and an All-American, in the outdoor 1500m and 3000m.
Each improving on postseason performances from the year prior, the 2019 Academy of Art men's and women's cross country seasons brought the
PacWest Runner of the Year and
individual conference champion Hasna Kaarour on the women's side,
seven All-PacWest Team honors plus the
PacWest Newcomer of the Year James Young, and the program's third woman at
NCAA Division II Nationals.
At Poway High School, Jackson was the head coach of cross country/track & field from July 2012 to Jan 2019. Under his direction, the program elevated to one of the top high school programs in California.
Jackson led Poway boys track & field to CIF San Diego Section Division 1 Championships in 2013 and 2014. The 2014 boys team also finished 10th at the California State Meet. Additionally, his boys track & field teams were CIF-SDS Division 1 Runner-ups in 2016, and 2017. Moreover, the boys track & field team captured Palomar league titles in 2014, and 2016. Under Jackson’s guidance, the Poway girls track & field program improved their placing at the CIF San Diego Section Division 1 championship each season. The girls team had back-to-back third-place finishes at the CIF-SDS championship in 2017 and 2018. His girls track & field team also won Palomar league titles in 2017 and 2018.
In cross country, Jackson’s Poway boys made the State Finals in 2015, 2016, and 2018. The 2016 boys team was CIF San Diego Section Division 2 Champions and went on to finish 10th in the State Final. Furthermore, the 2018 boys team was CIF-SDS Division 2 runner-ups. Poway boys cross country also won a Palomar league title in 2018. Poway girls made the State Finals in 2012, 2013, and 2018. The 2013 and 2018 girls teams finished as CIF-SDS Division 2 Runner-ups. The 2013 team placed 10th at the State Final. Additionally, Poway girls cross country captured Palomar league titles in 2013 and 2018.
Prior to earning a Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2012, Jackson graduated from University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Law, Society, & Justice in 2006. At UW, he was a member of the cross country and track & field teams where he was a three-time All-American and a 400m, 4x400m, and Distance Medley Relay NCAA championships qualifier. He also was the 2007 USATF Club National 800m Champion. Moreover, he was a USATF National Indoor Championship qualifier at 800m in 2007 and 2008.
Jackson is a USATF Level 2 certified coach in endurance. Additionally, he is a USTFCCCA certified endurance specialist with a master's endorsement in the middle and long distances, and has received a USTFCCCA certification in Strength & Conditioning. In 2016, he was selected as a USATF/USOC Emerging Elite Coach.
