Dr. Ricky Jackson was named Interim Director of Athletics on June 13 following the resignation of Director of Athletics Chris Parker. Jackson served as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance & Academics in 2024-25 after administrative positions at Talladega College in Talladega, AL, where he served as Associate Athletic Director/Director of Compliance, and Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO, where he was Assistant Athletic Director of Operations.
Prior to moving to administration, Jackson spent nine seasons as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at NCAA Division II Claflin University where he led the Panthers to the 2018 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) tournament title obtaining the conference's automatic bid into Regionals, and winning just the second NCAA Regional game in program history. After winning just 10 games in his first season, his teams won 16-plus games in each of the next five campaigns. During the 2017-18 campaign, Jackson led his team to a program best 26-7 record, the most wins in a season since Claflin moved to the NCAA Division II ranks. This followed the 2016-17 season in which the Panthers won 17 games and a share of the SIAC East Division title.
Jackson joined the Claflin staff in 2013 after serving as the men’s top assistant at Shaw University, and before that was head coach of the Gloucester County College men’s basketball program. Jackson began his career at Gloucester County College (GCC) as an assistant coach in 1996, took over the reins of the GCC program in 2001-02, and compiled an impressive overall record of 184-46, a .810 winning percentage. During his seven-year tenure at GCC, his teams won the Region XIX championship three times. In 2005-2006 his team reached the championship game of the NJCAA Division III National Championship before falling to North Lake College of Texas. His 2003-2004 team finished fourth in the NJCAA Division III National Championships, losing to eventual champion Sullivan County. In 2006-2007, GCC finished seventh in the NJCAA Division III. GCC won the Roadrunner Holiday Basketball Classic six times in his seven seasons as coach.
Jackson began his coaching career in 1989 as a student assistant while matriculating at Virginia Union University under the leadership of the legendary Dave Robbins. Upon graduation in 1992, Jackson returned to his hometown of Philadelphia, Pa. where he continued his coaching career at Ridley High School in Ridley, PA. Jackson then progressed to the AAU circuit before arriving at GCC.
Jackson received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Union in Richmond, Virginia, and a Master’s Degree in Human Services Administration from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. In November 2019, he earned a Doctor of Education (Sports Management) at Northcentral University in Prescott Valley, Arizona.
