Petra Jackson begins her third season as an assistant with Billikens women's basketball. Her reputation as a standout player has had an impact on not only SLU athletes, but also the community. Jackson was name one of the top high school basketball players in St. Louis history by the St. Louis American. Jackson has been influential in guard development and oversees player practices. Off the court, Jackson serves as an academic liaison and assists with player recruitment. During the off-season, she manages summer camp operations. Prior to SLU, Jackson spent three seasons as the head coach at Shoreline Community College in Seattle, Wash., where she posted a 45-32 record. Under her direction, the team posted its first 20-win season and earned votes in the NWAACC coaches poll. In 2003-04, Jackson was nominated for the Region 8 Coach of the Year award after leading Shoreline to its first playoff appearance and a second place finish in the league. Jackson was a standout guard at Southern Illinois-Carbondale from 1982 to 1986. She finished her SIU career with 1,475 points and still ranks fourth on the all-time Saluki scoring list. Jackson holds the school record for career field goals made at 650 and is fourth on the all-time steals chart with 189. She was a first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection as a senior and also was the recipient of the Paul Roberson Award from SIU. Her teammates voted her Most Valuable Player. In 1991, she was inducted into the Southern Illinois-Carbondale Hall of Fame. After her collegiate playing days, Jackson played professional basketball in the Women's Basketball Association from 1993-95. Jackson began her coaching career in 1988 as an assistant coach at nearby Harris-Stowe University. In 1992, she became the head girls coach basketball at Block Yeshiva High School. After six seasons in the prep ranks, Jackson earned her first collegiate head coach position when she was tabbed to guide the program at St. Louis Community College - Forest Park in 1998. Her 1999-2000 team placed second in regionals. As a high school star at University City, she earned three letters each in the sports of basketball, volleyball, softball and track and field. |
|
|||||||||||
