Xavier University of Louisiana's Dannton Jackson has been chosen Louisiana Small College Coach of the Year for 2014, the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches announced Thursday.
This is the first time for Jackson to receive the award, which is chosen annually by the state's men's college basketball coaches. Jackson will receive the award May 3 during the LABC's 40th annual awards banquet in Baton Rouge.
Jackson became the Gold Rush all-time leader in coaching victories when Xavier won 71-66 at Spring Hill on Dec. 17. The Gold Rush were 23-9 in 2013-14, winning a third consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship and qualifying for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship or the fourth straight year. Jackson retooled a program which had five senior starters the previous season, and his team produced seven victories against NAIA national tourney qualifiers, including an overtime home decision against top-10 William Carey.
Jackson set a GCAC record in 2013-14 with his third consecutive Coach of the Year award.
The Gold Rush's 97 victories during the past four seasons are the program's winningest four consecutive seasons since 1937-41.
Jackson's 11-year record with the Gold Rush is 249-107. His nine 20-win seasons trail only hall-of-famers Fred Hobdy (Grambling) and Dale Brown (LSU) in Louisiana men's collegiate history.
He is the second Xavier coach to win the LABC award and the first since Dale Valdery in 2001.
The Embassy Suites Hotel (4914 Constitution Ave., zip 70808) will be the site of the banquet, which will start at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $25.
Contact: ecassier@xula.edu
Posted By: How May I Help You NC
Friday, April 18th 2014 at 11:01AM
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