Ken Jackson is in his third year as Southwest Athletic Director. He was elevated to the position in June following a two-year run as Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Fundraising.
Prior to that he spent seven years as head coach of the Bears baseball team.
In 2021, his final season as head coach, Jackson reached 100 wins at Southwest.
Prior to taking the reins of the baseball team, Jackson served as the team’s assistant coach for six years and spent nearly 40 years total as a baseball coach.
Under Jackson’s leadership, the 2016 Bears had their best on-field record, and put up some of their best offensive numbers, in several seasons. Seven individual records were either tied or broken in 2016.
In 2015, Jackson directed the Bears to their first post-season appearance in nine years.
Under Jackson’s watch, several improvements were made to the program’s facilities, including a complete renovation of the field’s drainage system and the addition of a new lighting system.
On the academic side, the Bears were named an NJCAA All-Academic Team for six straight years. Numerous players received national and/or conference academic honors including members of the 2021 squad.
On the field, Jackson saw 31 players move on to continue their collegiate careers in the NCAA or NAIA.
As head coach, Jackson was involved with every facet of the program at Southwest but his primary responsibility was the pitching staff. Fifty-eight players signed with four-year programs after he joined the team. School records in five pitching categories were set during that period including Trey Setzer’s 1.64 ERA in 2011. Jackson recorded his 500th career win in 2015 and picked up his 100th win as Bears head coach in 2021.
Prior to joining the Southwest staff, Jackson was the head coach at Parklane Academy for twenty-three seasons. Under his direction, the Pioneers won two state championships (2000 & 2001) and finished second four times (1993, 1998, 2005, and 2008). He won more than 65% of his games and sent forty-three players on to college playing careers.
While at Parklane, Jackson was named an All-Star coach six times and was selected the MAIS Coach of the Year during his two state championship seasons. In 2003, he was honored by the ABCA as one of eight Regional Coach of the Year selections from across the country.
A McComb native and Parklane graduate, Jackson played football (1981-82) and baseball (1982-83) at Southwest before receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Coaching and Sports Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1985. He received a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix 2007. In 2006, he was honored by the American Baseball Coaches Association for reaching his 25th year in the profession and in 2014 he was inducted into the Parklane Academy Sports Hall of Fame.
Jackson’s wife, Jill, is also a Southwest graduate as are their daughters Hayley Hicks and Maggie Slaton and their son-in-law Brett Hicks. Maggie was a two-year starter for the softball team at Delta State University after a stellar career at Southwest. She was an assistant softball coach at Southwest from 2015-2018. Slaton’s husband, Ben, is a former Southwest assistant baseball coach.
The Jacksons have five grandchildren, Kennedy Hicks and McKenzie Hicks and Maddie, Cooper and Mia Slaton.
