A dramatically improved defense, led by defensive coordinator Eric Jackson, played a major role in Portland State’s five-game improvement in the win column in 2011.
Jackson’s defense allowed 351.3 yards and 28.0 points per game in 2011, improving by 111 yards and nearly 12 points per game. Specifically, a pourous run-game defense improved by nearly 100 yards over the 2010 season. Certainly that made the Vikings the most improved defense in the Big Sky Conference, as well as the most improved team overall.
The Vikings’ third-year defensive coordinator benefitted from a more experienced group of players, a better understanding of the 4-3 system, and a strong recruiting class.
Jackson is a veteran coach with more than 20 years experience at the collegiate level. He once recruited Burton out of high school, and now serves as his defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
In 2011, he oversaw Viking star defensive back DeShawn Shead’s transition from cornerback to safety, leading him to first team All-Conference honors. Shead also became an NFL prospect. He also developed newcomers Myles Wade (DT) and Ian Sluss (LB) into second team All-Conference selection.
“Eric is a guy I have known since high school,” said Burton, “He tried to recruit me to Cal Poly when he was the defensive coordinator there.
“He has done a great job coaching on the east coast, the west coast, as a defensive coordinator and in the secondary. Year after year he has had one of the best secondaries and defenses in his league.”
“He is also a guy who cares about kids. We have the same principles. I know that because I knew his value system when he recruited me way back when. He’s very familiar with our defensive system, so the transition here should be easy. The two of us will work very well together.”
BACKGROUND
Most recently, Jackson spent 10 seasons in the Ivy League with Princeton serving as the Secondary Coach and Special Teams Coordinator for the Tigers. He was also responsible for recruiting in the Oregon and Washington area.
Jackson began his coaching career at Ypsilanti High School in Michigan, from 1984-87. From 1987-89, Jackson served as a graduate assistant, coaching linebackers and secondary at the University of Cincinnati.
He moved on to the Ivy League for the first time from 1989-91 at Cornell. Jackson was the Defensive Coordinator and Secondary Coach for the freshman team.
Jackson was the Defensive Coordinator at Alma College from 1991-93. He also served as the Head Track and Field Coach.
His west coast ties became evident in the mid-1990s when Jackson coached first at the University of Idaho (1993-94), then Cal Poly (1994-97). Jackson was the Secondary Coach at Idaho when they were national semifinalists in 1993.
At Cal Poly, Jackson took over as Defensive Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator and Secondary Coach for the Mustangs. While coaching at Cal Poly, the Mustangs won the America West Conference (1994), and had the number-one ranked passing defense, rushing defense and total defense from 1994-96 under Jackson.
Jackson returned to Cornell for two seasons as the Secondary Coach (1997-98). He moved on to be the Defensive Coordinator and Secondary Coach at Ithaca College from 1998-2000.
Other credits include NFL internships with the Detroit Lions (1995-96) and the Carolina Panthers (1998). He also coached the Nevada Aces in the Spring Professional Football League in 1991. Jackson has been a frequent clinician over the years and participated in the NCAA Expert Coaches Academy in 2009.
Jackson is a native of Ypsilanti, MI. He graduated from Ypsilanti High School in 1982. He earned a degree in History from Eastern Michigan in 1987.
THE ERIC JACKSON FILE
3rd year at Portland State
Hometown: Ypsilanti, MI
Alma Mater: Eastern Michigan, 1987 (History)
Playing Experience: Eastern Michigan, 1982-84, defensive back
Date of Birth: 1/26/64
Family: Son, Davis; daughter, Brooks
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2010-12 Portland State, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
2000-09 Princeton, Secondary Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
1998-2000 Ithaca, Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1997-98 Cornell, Secondary
1994-97 Cal Poly, Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coordinator/Secondary
1993-94 Idaho, Secondary
1991-93 Alma College, Defensive Coordinator
1989-91 Cornell, Freshman Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1987-89 Cincinnati, Graduate Assistant - Linebackers, Secondary
1984-87 Ypsilanti (MI) High School, Secondary/Defensive Line
RECRUITING AREAS
Oregon leagues: Cowapa, Oregon West
Out of state: Seattle, Western Washington
ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE VIKINGS UNDER ERIC JACKSON
2010
2nd team: CB DeShawn Shead
HM: DE Carl Sommer, DT Julious Moore
2011
1st team: SS DeShawn Shead
2nd team: DT Myles Wade, LB Ian Sluss
HM: LB Ryan Rau, DE Jack Forbes, LB Joel Sisler
