Football | February 11

DeKALB, Ill. – Derrick Jackson, a 20-year collegiate coaching veteran whose résumé includes stints at Purdue, Wake Forest, Michigan State, Syracuse and NIU, has joined the Northern Illinois University football coaching staff as associate head coach and defensive coordinator, NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock announced Monday.
 
Jackson, the Huskies' defensive tackles coach in 2005, spent the last two seasons as cornerbacks coach and defensive recruiting coordinator at Purdue, helping the Boilermakers to a pair of bowl appearances. He will coach the safeties at NIU in addition to his defensive coordinator and associate head coach roles.
 
"We were lucky to have an opportunity to get Derrick," Hammock said. "He's one of the best coaches I know. He has coached every level of defense – the d-line, the linebackers, and DBs, so he has a thorough knowledge of how everything works together. He is highly intelligent, very articulate and can break defense down in a simple form for the players to understand. I have great respect for him as a person, as a coach, as a recruiter, and as a leader."
 
At Purdue in 2017, the Boilermakers' defense ranked in the top 30 in the country in scoring defense (24^th) and rushing defense (29^th), a marked improvement from the previous year when Purdue ranked 117^th and 115^th, respectively, in those categories.  At Wake Forest from 2012-2016, as outside linebackers (2012), defensive backs (2013) and cornerbacks (2014-16), the defense showed similar improvements. The Demon Deacons ranked in the Top 40 in the nation in total defense in 2013, '14 and '15, and Wake Forest won the 2016 Military Bowl behind a scoring defense that ranked 23^rd nationally. During his time coaching the WFU defensive backs, six of his players earned All-ACC honors, three played in post-season all-star games and cornerback Kevin Johnson was a first round draft pick by the Houston Texans in the 2015 NFL Draft.
 
Jackson, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, coached the defensive line at Rice in 2011 and at Akron in 2010. From 2007-09, he coached the defensive line at Syracuse, serving as co-defensive coordinator in 2008. His pupils at Syracuse included defensive tackle Arthur Jones, a three-time All-Big East selection and 2009 third-team All-American, and Freshman All-American defensive end Chandler Jones. Both Arthur Jones (5^th round, Baltimore Ravens, 2010) and Chandler Jones (1^st round, New England Patriots, 2012) went on to be selected in the NFL Draft.
 
Before working at Syracuse, Jackson spent the 2006 campaign as defensive line coach at Michigan State; the Spartans limited the opposition to eight rushing touchdowns that season. Jackson's first stint at NIU came in 2005 under head coach Joe Novak, when he served as defensive line coach on the staff that led the Huskies to its first MAC Championship game. That season, he coached first team All-MAC selection Quince Holman.
 
"I have such fond memories of the one year I did spend here," Jackson said. "It was my first FBS coaching opportunity, my wife and I were engaged while here, and it really was the start of my career coaching at this level. Having been a part of the NIU team that played in the MAC championship game in 2005, that unfortunately didn't get it done, kind of motivated me to come back and be a part of taking care of that unfinished business.
 
"This is one of the most exciting opportunities I've had a chance to be a part of in my coaching career," he continued. "Having a previous relationship with Coach Hammock and knowing the type of person and coach he is was probably the biggest factor in me wanting to come back here, because I know how special the place is to him."
 
Hammock remembered Jackson's initial interview for the position at NIU.
 
"In 2005, we interviewed him here at NIU, and he had the 'it' factor, from the first moment I met him," Hammock said. "My opinion of him has not changed. He was a must get for me when I was looking at taking the job. He's a guy that has earned his stripes the hard way. I think he is going to excel with this opportunity and continue the success NIU's defense has had over the past few years." 
 
Prior to NIU, Jackson spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons at Eastern Illinois as defensive line coach, and was the defensive ends coach at Army in 2001 and 2002.  He began his coaching career at West Georgia as tight ends coach in 1999 and 2000.
 
As a young coach, he spent two summers as part of the NFL Coaching Fellowship program with the Miami Dolphins (2001) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002).
 
A four-year letterwinner at Duke as a defensive back, Jackson started 40 consecutive games and finished his career as the eighth-leading tackler in school history. He was named the team's most outstanding defensive back twice, and was a member of the Blue Devils' 1989 Atlantic Coast Conference co-championship and All-American Bowl team.
 
-- NIU --