Melissa Jackson enters her fourth season on the Akron staff this fall. She serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator and offensive coordinator, working primarily with the guards. 

Jackson joined the UA staff after helping to guide the University of Delaware program to three postseason berths – including a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2007 – in four seasons while in the same role from 2004-05 to 2007-08.

“We are very happy to have Melissa join our Akron basketball family,” said UA head coach Jodi Kest on the day of Jackson's hiring. “She has played and worked for some of the best coaches in the country and we are excited to have Melissa be a part of helping us build our program.”

During Jackson’s time at Delaware, the Blue Hens captured a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) regular season championship in 2004-05, a pair of WNIT berths in 2005 and 2006, and earned an at-large bid to the Big Dance with a 26-6 record in 2007. Overall, UD posted a four-year record of 80-44 (.645) and won 71 percent of its conference games (51-21) during that stretch.

Jackson, who worked primarily with the guards at Delaware, helped mentor 2007 WNBA draftee (No. 18 overall) and current Detroit Shock guard Tyresa Smith and a pair of CAA defensive players of the year in Smith (’06, ’07) and Kyle DeHaven (’08). Jackson also played key roles in the recruitment of Jocelyn Bailey, a Top 100 player according to HoopGurlz.com in 2008, and Tesia Harris, the 14th-best swing guard in the nation according to the All-Star Girls Report in 2007.

Jackson played four seasons at the University of Richmond and earned a political science degree in May of 2004. She appeared in 50 career games as a guard with the Atlantic 10 Conference power and earned WNIT berths in both 2003 and 2004. Her ’04 squad advanced to the semifinals.

A former All-State selection at Hazleton Area High School in Hazleton, Pa., Jackson is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has participated in a number of charitable programs, including Habitat for Humanity, Helping Hands and Adopt a Grandparent.

Jackson and her husband, Drew, currently reside in Bay Village.