Lewis Jackson, one of the all-time greats in school history, rejoins the Alabama State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics as the coordinator in Student-Athlete Experience.
He rejoins the staff after resigning his position as head men’s basketball coach in March 2020.
The Wetumpka (Ala.) native was a legend as a player earning SWAC Hall of Fame honors and ASU Hall of Fame honors for his play. While playing for Wetumpka High, Jackson led his team to back-to-back state championships and was twice chosen as Most Valuable Player of the state tournament. Jackson then selected ASU to continue his basketball career, becoming one of the best players in school history. After breaking into the starting lineup four games into his freshman season, he went on to score 2,203 points - ranking fourth on ASU’s all-time scoring list.
After his senior season in 1984, Jackson was named SWAC Player of the Year, Black College Basketball Player of the Year and a Black College All-American. He was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the third round and received an invitation to try out for the United States Olympic basketball team. He would ultimately play professionally in Australia, Canada and the Philippines before retiring in 1990.
His number, 33, is retired by ASU and hangs in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. Wetumpka High School retired both numbers Jackson donned, 34 and 35.
He became his alma mater’s head coach in June 2005, catapulting the former player and assistant coach to the top of the program he helped build into a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) powerhouse. He finished his career with over 200 wins and a 208-259 record in 15 years for the Hornets.
Jackson had served as an assistant as ASU since the 2000-01 season and has been an integral part of the program’s success. ASU has won two SWAC Tournament Championships (2009, 2011) and earned NCAA Tournament berths with those championships. He also led the Hornets to regular season conference titles in 2008 and again a year later in 2009.  Last season he led the Hornets to a program first appearance in the CollegeInsider’s Tournament.
He is married to ASU’s head women’s basketball coach, Freda Freeman-Jackson. They have two children, Antron and Bianca.
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