Happy Birthday Coach Fred Jackson

Assistant Coach Fred Jackson will be celebrating his 56th birthday this Friday, June 9th. Coach Jackson is in his 15th season with the Wolverines and is the longest tenured assistant coach on the Michigan staff. Coach Jackson joined the coaching staff in 1992 during the Gary Moeller era. Coach Jackson has primarily worked with the running backs during his years coaching the Wolverines. However, during Lloyd Carr's first year as Head Coach in 1995, Coach Jackson became the Offensive Coordinator. He stayed in that position for the 1996 season as well but was replaced by Mike DeBord before the 1997 National Championship season. So as not to make it appear as a demotion, Coach Jackson was given the title of Assistant Head Coach in 1997 in addition to his duties as Running Backs Coach. He held those titles through the 2002 season when Coach Carr named Erik Campbell as Assistant Head Coach prior to the 2003 season. Coach Jackson was elevated to the title of "Associate Head Coach" that had been vacated by the departed Brady Hoke who had left to take the head coaching position of his alma mater Ball State University. Associate Head Coach is the title that Coach Jackson still holds today as well as, of course, his postition as the Running Backs "Mentor". Whatever his title, Coach Jackson has performed extremely well during his many years with the program. Coach Jackson has coached some of the biggest Wolverine superstars during his tenure and he is also a fabulous recruiter. Happy Birthday to Associate/Deputy/Lieutenant/Apprentice/Accomplice/Aide-de-camp/ Assistant Coach Jackson.