Robinson Adds Jackson to Orange Football Staff

Head Coach Greg Robinson's Press Conference Transcript
Defensive Line Coach Derrick Jackson's Press Conference Transcript

Syracuse head football coach Greg Robinson has named Derrick Jackson as the Orange’s defensive line coach. Jackson brings championship experience to the Syracuse program. As a student-athlete Jackson played defensive back for Duke’s 1989 Atlantic Coast Conference co-Championship team. As a coach he has worked with league championship teams at Northern Illinois and the State University of West Georgia.

“Derrick is a sharp guy and a great coach,” Robinson said. “He played on a championship team at Duke, where he started for four years, and has broad experiences as someone who has come up through the ranks. After graduation he went into business and realized he couldn’t live without football and began his coaching career at a Division II program. It did not matter with whom I spoke about him, I came back with the same answers. I am excited to have Derrick on board and I look forward to getting started.”

Jackson, who joins the Orange staff after spending the 2006 season as the defensive line coach at Michigan State, has coaching experience in the National Football League. During the summer of 2002, Jackson worked with Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, defensive line coach Rod Marinelli and linebackers coach Joe Barry in the NFL Fellowship program.

“The foundation of the defensive philosophy I believe in came from my work with Monte Kiffin and Rod Marinelli in 1980,” Robinson said. “Derrick’s experience working in Tampa Bay with Monte and Rod as part of the NFL Fellowship program fits well with many of the things we do here.”

In 2001, Jackson served an NFL Fellowship with the Miami Dolphins, working with defensive coordinator Jim Bates and linebackers coach Bob Sanders during training camp.

Jackson began his coaching career as the tight ends coach at West Georgia in 1999. The Wolves posted a 10-2 overall record, tied for the Gulf South Conference championship and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs. In 2001, he joined the United States Military Academy coaching staff to mentor the defensive ends. While at West Point, Jackson coached Army’s single-season and career sacks leader Clarence Holmes and first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American Brandon Perdue.

In 2003, Jackson moved to Eastern Illinois University to coach the defensive line. The Panthers run defense ranked 18th nationally in his second season at EIU. Jackson coached second-team All-American defensive tackle Marcus Lorick and Ohio Valley Conference sacks leader Kory Lothe. Jackson joined the Northern Illinois staff as the defensive tackles coach in 2005 and the Huskies shared the MAC West Championship and ranked 34th nationally in scoring defense. Jackson moved to the Big Ten Conference to coach the Michigan State defensive line prior to the 2006 season. The Spartans allowed just eight rushing touchdowns and held four opponents to less than 100 yards.

A native of Long Valley, N.J., Jackson spent six years in the private sector after graduating from Duke in 1993. He recorded 262 career tackles at safety, which ranked eighth on the Blue Devils’ career record list at the conclusion of his career, and he had six interceptions. A four-year starter, he was twice named the Duke’s Most Outstanding Defensive Back (1991 and 1992). Jackson earned his bachelor’s degree in history.

Syracuse University Athletics

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