GoFrogs.com talks with Freeman, Henderson and Jackson
Shawn Jackson joined the TCU track and field program as assistant coach for jumps in August of 2012. Jackson came to Fort Worth after a successful 17-year stint as an associate head coach at Louisiana Tech, coaching sprints, hurdles and jumps at his alma mater.
A two-time Mid-East Region Coach of the Year (2006, 2008) Jackson helped Louisiana Tech earn 16 team conference championships. During his tenure at Louisiana Tech, 30 of the team's 43 school records were claimed by athletes Jackson coached. Overall, Jackson's had 11 athletes earned 28 All-America honors and 76 conference titles, including 25 in relay events.
Jackson closed out his time in Ruston, La. with a splash on the international scene as he helped Chelsea Hayes earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in the long jump. Hayes went to the U.S. Olympic Trials not among the favorites for one of the three advancing spots to London. However, Hayes shocked the track and field community with a huge jump of 23-3 ½ to finish second and punch her ticket to London.
Jackson has coached athletes that have appeared in the Olympic Trials in the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes, 400-meter hurdles, the long jump and the triple jump.
Hayes was among Jackson's most successful competitors at LA Tech, earning All-America honors six times, winning 14 WAC Championships, earning WAC Female Athlete of the Year in 2012 and being named All-WAC on 18 occasions.
Jackson helped the Louisiana Tech women's track and field program earn seven consecutive outdoor track and field conference titles from 2005-11. In 2008, Jackson was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA.
Jackson has also helped guide many other athletes to success both on the collegiate and international circuit. In two seasons of work Jackson helped Trey Hadnot earn seven WAC titles and multiple All-America honors. Hadnot's work with Jackson landed him a bronze medal at the USA Junior Championships and a spot on Team USA at the Pan American Junior Championships.
Jackson's success has been sustained over multiple conferences too. He was an important figure in establishing the success of Louisiana Tech in the Sun Belt Conference during the 1990s and continued his work as the Bulldogs moved to the Western Athletic Conference.
From Buffalo, N.Y., Jackson was a competitor for the Bulldogs from 1990-92, which included a 4x100-meter relay title in 1992. He finished his degree in general studies from Louisiana Tech in 1994. He went on to earn his Master's in sports science from LA Tech.
