LSU School of Kinesiology Alumnus Hired as Inaugural Tony Dungy Diversity Coaching Fellow
Brent Jackson, Sport Management ’20 graduate, selected by committee to serve as the Defensive Dungy Fellow.
August 29, 2022
BATON ROUGE – Brent Jackson, a 2020 graduate of the LSU Sport Management master's program and Louisiana native, has recently been named one of two inaugural Tony Dungy Diversity Coaching Fellows. This fellowship was created to give diverse and talented candidates the opportunity to gain extensive coaching experience early in their careers.
Jackson received his undergraduate degree in Sport Management from University of Louisiana-Lafayette (ULL) in 2018 and his master’s degree in the same field from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2020. His coaching career however, started before he even left his undergraduate studies. While studying at ULL, Jackson began volunteering with the football program under Mark Hudspeth. He worked with the program for a total of four years, with his last year under esteemed coach Billy Napier during Napier’s first season with the program. Upon graduating, Jackson then held graduate assistant coaching roles at the University of Illinois, Auburn University and also the University of Oregon.
It was during those years coaching that Jackson decided to pursue a master’s degree in Sport Management. On why he chose LSU for his graduate studies, Jackson states, “I felt as though I would have more opportunities to be successful in the future if I were to get a graduate degree from a prestigious university like LSU.” He continues, “Also, because LSU has one of the top sport management programs in the country, I knew that whatever specific area I ended up pursuing after graduation, LSU would fully prepare me to take on that challenge.”
Jackson shares that he learned critical lessons in his time in the LSU Sport Management program that have served him well in his coaching career. He elaborates that the program taught him how to teach others and to recognize that each person learns in their own unique way -- “which as a coach is extremely important in order to successfully get information or coaching points across to your players,” he states. Additionally, the online curriculum encouraged interactions with his cohort that helped him learn how to evaluate differing opinions and to approach situations with an open mind, something he continues to apply to his work.
Jackson’s dedication to continuous learning and building relationships contributed to his coaching success and his selection as the defensive Dungy Diversity Coaching Fellow.
The creation of this impactful fellowship program was borne of the Indianapolis Colts’ commitment to building diversity and inclusion into NFL coaching. Jackson, and his co-fellow – offensive Dungy Diversity Fellow Jamel Mutunga, were chosen by a selection committee that included fellowship namesake and legendary Colts coach, Tony Dungy; the Irsay family – owners of the Colts franchise; general manager Chris Ballard; head coach Frank Reich; and other members of the Colts' coaching staff and football operations department.
“This opportunity means a lot to me,” says Jackson. “I can’t say that there are many things that I have wanted more up to this point in my life... Being that there are only 32 teams in the NFL, I feel extremely grateful and fortunate to be employed by one of them.”
Get to know more about Jackson’s career and experience at LSU through a Q&A with the LSU School of Kinesiology. Learn about the Tony Dungy Diversity Coaching Fellowship here.
About the LSU School of Kinesiology
The LSU School of Kinesiology advances the understanding of physical activity, sport,
and health to optimize the quality of life for diverse populations through excellence
in teaching, learning, discovery, and engagement.
Visit the School of Kinesiology at lsu.edu/kinesiology.
About the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division
of Louisiana State University. The College is comprised of the School of Education,
the School of Leadership and Human Resource Development, the School of Kinesiology,
the School of Library and Information Science, the School of Social Work, and the
University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree
programs and 18 graduate programs, enrolling more than 1,900 undergraduate and 977
graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the highest standards in
teaching, research, and service and is continually working to improve its programs.
Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education at chse.lsu.edu.