YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Tavares Jackson, the top assistant coach at Slippery Rock University for the past six seasons, has accepted a similar position at Youngstown State University.
YSU officials announced Monday afternoon that Jackson and former Canisius College assistant coach Jen Gwin will assist first-year Penguins head coach Bob Bolddon, who has only been on the job since April 14.
"I'm very pleased to welcome two enthusiastic and passionate coaches to our staff in Jen and Tavares," Boldon said. "Their experience, knowledge and character will be great assets as we begin to re-establish the winning tradition here at Youngstown State."
Jackson will serve as the recruiting coordinator as well as helping with on-floor coaching, game preparation, scheduling and the program's team camp. Gwin, a former student assistant at Gannon University, will be responsible for on-floor coaching, game preparation, assistant with recruiting, overseeing academic and equipment needs and organizing YSU's individual camps.
"Tavares is genuinely passionate about the game of basketball," Boldon said. "He is a tireless worker and an outstanding recruiter. I am excited to have him join our staff."
As the top assistant to former Rock head coach
Laurel Heilman, Jackson recruited three student-athletes who earned All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division honors and helped SRU earn a PSAC playoff berth in 2005-06.
Jackson got his first Division I experience at Austin Peay State University during the 2002-03 season as the Governors posted their best season in school history. The Governors went 27-4 that season, won both the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles and played North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. Jackson also coached in the OVC the following season at Eastern Illinois, helping two Panthers receive second-team all-conference honors.
Jackson's coaching career began at Division II Bemidji State University in Minnesota as a graduate assistant. He played two years at Division II Minnesota, Crookston after a two-year junior college playing career at Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin.
