Dan Jackson - Cornerbacks Coach/Recruiting Coordinator - Football Coaches

Dan Jackson

Title:
Cornerbacks Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

Daniel Jackson was elevated to cornerbacks coach in 2014 after serving as a defensive and recruiting assistant for the Jackrabbit football program the previous two seasons. Jackson, who has played a key role in SDSU’s success on the recruiting trail, especially working in his home state of Nebraska, added the duties of recruiting coordinator following the 2016 season.

Jackson also has directed the team’s punt return unit since the start of the 2016 campaign.

During the Jackrabbits’ playoff season in 2012, Jackson helped mentor a secondary that allowed only nine passing touchdowns, while intercepting 13 passes. As a squad, the Jackrabbit defense ranked fourth among Football Championship Subdivision programs for pass efficiency defense at 100.33. SDSU also ranked fifth in scoring defense (16.38 points per game) and eighth in total defense (305.3 yards per game).

SDSU made a return trip to the FCS playoffs in 2013 behind a potent offense and opportunistic defense. The Jackrabbits ranked second nationally with 22 interceptions, including a team-high four pickoffs from cornerbacks Winston Wright and Je Ryan Butler. Wright went on to earn third-team All-America honors from the Sports Network. SDSU also ranked fifth nationally with 33 turnovers forced and a plus-1.1 turnover margin per game.

In addition, the Jackrabbits were the eighth-least penalized team in the country, averaging only 4.36 miscues per game.

During the 2014 campaign, Jackson mentored a group of cornerbacks that included honorable mention all-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection Jimmie Forsythe. Forsythe went on to earn second-team all-MVFC accolades in 2015, while Butler was an honorable mention selection after both shared the team lead with two interceptions.

With a revamped position group in 2016, the Jackrabbit defense showed improvement against the pass as the season progressed. Junior college transfer Anthony Washington was honored with a spot on the MVFC All-Newcomer Team, while fellow first-year starter Jordan Brown tied for second on the squad with a pair of interceptions.

Under Jackson's guidance in 2017, Brown earned a spot on the all-MVFC First Team after leading the team with three forced fumbles and nine pass breakups, while ranking second in both tackles (72) and interceptions (3).

SDSU held six opponents to under 200 yards passing during the 2017 season and forced at least one turnover in all 14 games. The Jackrabbits bring a streak of 15 consecutive games with at least one takeaway into the 2018 campaign.

Jackson previously was associated with South Dakota State football as a player from 2003-05. The Omaha native was recruited as a linebacker following an all-state career at Omaha Burke High School and played briefly with the Jackrabbits in 2004, recording a pair of tackles. He returned to Omaha to complete a bachelor’s degree at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and later completed a master’s degree in education administration at SDSU.

Jackson’s previous coaching experience included serving as offensive coordinator at Omaha Burke High School.