Utah Valley University Athletics

Jarred Jackson enters his third season as an assistant coach on his men's basketball staff at Utah Valley.

In just his second season with the team, Jackson helped the Wolverines to a history-making 2020-21 season. After returning just two players, welcoming 16 newcomers, and being picked seventh in the WAC preseason polls last season, Utah Valley finished atop the league standings and won the WAC regular season title. The championship is only the second WAC title in UVU history and its first since the 2014 season. The Wolverines were one of the most unselfish teams in the nation last season, averaging 16.8 assists per game, which ranked 11th nationally. UVU's 2020-21 team was the only team in the WAC to defeat every team in the league. 

Four UVU players earned All-WAC honors in 2021, including first team, second team, and honorable mention awards. Fardaws Aimaq became the first player in UVU history to earn both WAC Player of the Year honors and the WAC Defensive Player of the Year award. Aimaq became the first player in 40 years to average 15 rebounds a game and was the nation's leader in total rebounds, rebounds per game, and defensive rebounds per game. Aimaq also earned All-District honors and was named a finalist for both the Lou Henson Player of the Year award and the Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year award. Aimaq won Riley Wallace Award, which is given annually to the top transfer in Division I college basketball.

In his first season at UVU, Jackson helped the Wolverines through injuries and adversity to pick up 11 wins, including a 68-62 win at North Dakota State, which finished the season with a 13-1 home mark, won the Summit League, and was on its way to the NCAA Tournament. UVU was the only team to defeat the Bison at home during the 2019-20 season. The Wolverines played tough on the road during the 2019-20 season, picking up impressive wins at North Dakota State, UAB, Wyoming, and Grand Canyon.

The 2019-20 team was the first since the 2013-14 WAC Championship UVU team to sweep Grand Canyon, picking up a 73-69 win GCU and a 92-80 win over the 'Lopes at home. The Wolverines also nearly knocked off No. 9 Kentucky on the road, coming back from a 16-point deficit to cut the UK lead to just one point, 68-67, with 3:26 to play. UVU's TJ Washington scored 22 points and was featured on ESPN SportsCenter's Top-10 plays after the game that night.

During Jackson's first season, UVU broke the all-time single season team blocks record with an impressive 157 swats. Emmanuel Olojakpoke broke the single season individual UVU blocks record with 81 swats and set the single season UVU field goal percentage mark at 69.1 percent. UVU's Brandon Averette earned WAC All-Newcomer Team honors.

Jackson's first year with Utah Valley was cut short due to the corona virus. The Wolverines were unable to play in the WAC Tournament because of the pandemic.

Jackson joined Utah Valley after working as the director of operations at UT Arlington. Jackson was a graduate assistant at Texas Tech University during the 2017-18 season, helping the Red Raiders to the NCAA Tournament's Elite 8. He joined the Lander University men's basketball staff as an assistant coach in 2015 and helped the Bearcats to a Peach Belt Conference title and an NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time in nine years.
 
Prior to Lander, Jackson served as the boys' basketball associate head coach and head junior varsity coach at West High School under Mike Matheson. His team reached the playoffs in two of his three seasons at WHS. During his tenure at WHS, Jackson coached, developed, and mentored six All-Region performers. 
 
A two-time All-PBC player during his career at Lander, Jackson scored 1,388 points and made 319 free throws and 214 three-pointers. A three-time team captain, Jackson led the Bearcats to the 2006-07 PBC Tournament championship and a berth to the NCAA Tournament. He was named PBC Player of the Week three times and was named Lander's Most Valuable Player for three straight seasons.
 
Jackson earned a bachelor's degree in sociology with a minor in African-American studies from Lander University in 2007. He went on to earn his master's degree in sports management/administration from Liberty University. He also earned an associates degree in logistics, material and supply chain management from the Community College of the Air Force.
 
He is married to former TyJha Corbin of Columbia, South Carolina. The couple has one son, Jace.