July 30, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
Head coach Denver Johnson announced the hiring of assistant coach Jonas Jackson Wednesday to assist Chris Patton with the defensive line.
"Jonas was recommended to us by some coaching colleagues who had working experience with him," said Johnson. "We are excited to be adding another coach to the staff with coordinating experience and experiences above and beyond just coaching a position. He has a great presence with the defensive line, having played defensive line in college, and has the reputation of being an outstanding recruiter, as well."
Jackson served the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at La Salle, which discontinued its program at the end of the 2007 season after competing at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) non-scholarship level.
The Explorers' defense ranked No. 10 in the nation in total defense and No. 5 against the pass under Jackson's leadership during the 2006 season. La Salle was No. 10 in the nation in pass defense last season.
"I'm definitely excited to be here at Illinois State," said Jackson. "I'm looking forward to working with Coach Johnson. He has an outstanding track record and reputation of taking care of his coaches. I really like the kids in the program, and I'm looking forward to putting my nose to the ground and helping this team win."
A Boston native, Jackson went to La Salle after serving as the defensive graduate assistant at Temple. Prior to his stint at Temple, he served as head coach and defensive coordinator of the Elancout Templiers in the French Pro League in spring 2005.
Jackson worked as an assistant coach at Arizona Western College for three fall seasons (2002-04). During that stretch, he also served as an assistant coach at Wagner College from April to July 2004, and as a graduate assistant coach at Valparaiso from January to August 2003.
He was a two-year letterwinner at Eastern Michigan, playing tight end and defensive line, after earning an associate's degree at Arizona Western College. He received a bachelor of science degree in parks and recreation at EMU in August 2002 before earning a master's degree in sports administration at Valparaiso in May 2004.
