Mark Jackson is the Director of Athletics for Villanova University, previously, Jackson was the senior associate athletic director for the University of Southern California.
Jackson, who graduated from Xaverian Brothers High School received a bachelor’s degree in Government from Colby College where he played defensive back on the football team from 1991 to 1994. Jackson also received a master’s degree in Public Policy from Trinity College in 1997.
Jackson, who spent time coaching, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Trinity College from 1995-1996. Following the Trinity position, Jackson joined the New England Patriots coaching staff as a special teams coaching assistant under then-Patriots head coach Pete Carroll in 1998. Carroll was fired following the 1999 season but Jackson stayed on with new head coach Bill Belichick’s coaching staff as a special teams and running backs coaching assistant through 2000. In 2001, Jackson rejoined Carroll, the then head coach at the University of Southern California, as the schools director of football operations and assistant athletic director, a position he held through 2005. In 2006, Jackson served as Executive Senior Associate Director of Athletics at Syracuse before being hired as Vice President of Athlete Development at the boxing development firm A2 Holdings. In addition, Jackson has held positions with the Oakland Raiders.
Since being named Athletic Director on August 25th, 2015 Villanova has maintained its position as one of the nation’s elite institutions for its combination of academic prestige, athletic achievement and community service. The 2015-2016 academic year was highlighted by the men’s basketball tem winning it’s second national championship in program history, among other highlights.
