Xavier names Dannton Jackson interim athletics director

Dannton Jackson

NEW ORLEANS — Dannton Jackson, a Xavier University of Louisiana alumnus and former Gold Rush letterman who has headed his alma mater's men's basketball program since 2002, has been named interim athletics director at the university, according to XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis.

Jackson, who will retain his head coaching position, replaces Dennis Cousin, who retired this summer after nine years as AD. Jackson takes over an athletics program that has achieved unparalleled recent success competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

In the past nine years Xavier teams have won 46 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference or NAIA unaffiliated group championships and qualified 34 times for NAIA National Championships in basketball, cross country, tennis, and volleyball. During that same stretch, 125 of 130 senior student-athletes under the current head coaches received degrees from Xavier or are still enrolled.

XU facilities also received a major upgrade last year with of the completion of the XU Tennis Center and the new Convocation Center for basketball and volleyball.

"As a head basketball coach Dannton has exhibited a thorough understanding of Xavier as an academic institution and a passion for both his sport and the student-athletes under his care," said Francis. "We expect that he will bring that same energy and fervor to this new task." Francis said a national search for a permanent athletics director is ongoing.

"Xavier has a proud tradition of winning, but also one of developing well-rounded men and women." said Jackson. "We get our student-athletes ready for life, prepare them for the future. We have a high graduation rate and a family atmosphere. That's how the tradition has grown."

Jackson, who graduated from Xavier in 1992, has compiled a 226-98 record in 10 seasons at the helm of Xavier's men's basketball program, which includes four regular-season GCAC co-championships and seven appearances at the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship, and three top-25 finishes.

Last season under Jackson, who was named GCAC Coach of the Year in 2012-13 for the second year in a row, the Gold Rush compiled a 24-8 record, sharing the regular-season conference title with Philander Smith, and advancing to the NAIA national tournament.

He is the only Xavier men's basketball coach to reach the NAIA's national tournament more than three times, and his winning percentage of .692 is the best at XU since 1946. He ranks third at Xavier in career victories and is in fourth place in Louisiana men's basketball history with a total of eight 20-win seasons.

Jackson succeeded Dale Valdery as head coach in June 2002, following four seasons as an assistant coach. Prior to that he served as an assistant women's basketball coach (1993-97), and head coach of men's and women's cross country (1994-96). He also spent one season as a men's basketball assistant coach at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Va.

Jackson also served as a court coach for the 2012 USA men's national team.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA