Head coach Bacari Alexander ’99 has announced his first assistant coaching seat as Jermaine Jackson ’99 will stay on staff and will now carry the title of recruiting coordinator.
“Coach Jackson has demonstrated in his short collegiate coaching span that he has a high care level for student-athlete welfare,” said coach Alexander. “His leadership during the programs transition has not only demonstrated this, but our program is stable due to his efforts. I’m confident that the mentorship of our players and understanding of our core values will shine through his contributions moving forward.”
Jackson just finished his first year as a collegiate coach in 2015-16, and the former Titan standout point guard was instrumental in bringing in two freshmen that contributed immediately to the program in Gerald Blackshear and Josh McFolley. McFolley would go on to earn Horizon League All-Freshman Team honors.
“I am happy to stay on staff and work with someone who is much closer than just a former teammate, coach Alexander is family,” said Jackson. “I want to be here for the kids and that is my goal, just working with these kids and helping them achieve the most they can in the classroom and on the court, while preparing them to graduate.”
His work with the guards was also evident in Carlton Brundidge’s senior campaign as he recorded career highs in almost every statistical category and ended the year second on the team in assists (2.3), and fourth in scoring (10.5) and rebounding (4.1).
Jackson was inducted into the Detroit Titan Hall of Fame in 2010. As a player, he was named All-Horizon League twice and was the Horizon League Player of the Year in 1999 after averaging 13.9 ppg., and leading the Titans to a 25-6 record and a HL Championship.
The four-year letter winner (1995-99) ended his career fifth in school history with 509 assists, ninth with 142 steals and 20th all-time in scoring with 1,341 career points.
He was part of two Horizon League regular season championships (1998, 1999) and a Horizon League Tournament title (1999). Jackson was also an integral part of the Titans NCAA Tournament success helping Detroit Mercy defeat 10th-seeded St. John’s in 1998 and No. 12 and fifth-seeded UCLA in 1999.
Born and raised in Detroit, the product of Finney High School went on to play in the NBA for five seasons, appearing in 135 games with five teams (Detroit, Toronto, Atlanta, New York & Milwaukee) before taking his career overseas. He also played in the CBA and the USBL as well as in Italy, Greece, Spain, Mexico and Israel. He was also selected to the all-star game while competing in the Israeli Basketball League.
Photo Courtesy Detroit Athletics
