Entering his second season with WVSU, Rashad Jackson is one of the nation's most respected defensive coordinators, with extensive collegiate and high school head coaching experience. He builds fast, physical, disciplined defenses designed to create chaos and force turnovers. He spent 14 seasons as a head coach, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Jackson has received a number of coaching awards throughout the years, including the Palm Beach County, Florida, Coach of the Year award, as well as regional and district coach of the year honors. Jackson's hybrid defenses are known for their player versatility and ability to create matchup problems, consistently ranking among the national leaders across major defensive categories.
Coach Jackson is known for his strong recruuiting ties throughout south Florida and the southeast. His recruiting experience extends across multiple key talent-rich regions, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, West Virginia and the DMV area (Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland).Â
This season marks an important step as he fully implements his defensive scheme. In his first season, four Yellow Jackets earned All-Mountain East Conference honors, demonstrating his impact on player development.
Prior to joining the WVSU staff, Jackson served as head coach at Inlet Grove High School, becoming the winningest coach in program history. When he arrived, the program had won just 12 games over the previous decade. He transformed the program, establishing a culture of accountability and discipline while leading the team to the playoffs.
From 2020 to 2021, Jackson was head coach at Glades Central High School. In 2021, he was named Palm Beach County Coach of the Year after leading the Raiders to an undefeated season and a berth in the state semifinals.
From 2017 to 2019, Jackson served as defensive coordinator at Oceanside Collegiate Academy, helping the Landsharks establish themselves as one of the dominant programs in the state. During those three seasons, Oceanside posted a 30-6 record while consistently featuring a top-ranked defense. His work produced 13 all-region players and fueled the program's rise.
From 2015 to 2016, Jackson served as defensive passing game coordinator at Glenville State College. Under his leadership, the secondary finished among the top three in pass defense in the Mountain East Conference and ranked No. 3 in interceptions. Three defensive backs earned all-conference honors in each of those two seasons.
Jackson was a standout cornerback at Marshall University from 2009-2011, competing under head coaches Doc Holliday and Mark Snyder. During his career with the Thundering Herd, Jackson established himself as a productive defensive playmaker and a reliable presence in the secondary.Â
Career statistics
- 8 career interceptionsÂ
- 81 career tackles
- 21 pass breakups
- 2 defensive touchdowns
Jackson is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson, a member of the famed "Dome Patrol" defense.Â
Jackson is married to Clarissa Jackson, and has two daughters, Maleia and Myla Jackson.
