image via Alabama A&M Athletics
Thursday afternoon Alabama A&M announced Donte Jackson as its new men’s basketball coach, replacing Otis Hughley, who recently stepped down.
Coach Jackson arrives on The Hill after spending 8 seasons at Grambling where he compiled a 132-124 overall record, including a program-record 24 wins in 2022-23. He also led the Tigers to 3 SWAC regular season crowns, winning the conference tournament in 2023-24. Jackson’s G-Men to an 88-81 win over Montana State in the play-in game before being defeated 78-50 by Purdue in the first round.
In addition, Jackson is a three-time SWAC Coach of the Year, a two-time Ben Jobe Award winner, and the NABC District 23 Coach of the Year.
My wife and I needed a change of scenery. After a lot of deep, thoughtful discussions [and] tough conversations, we decided to hit the reset button. We needed the opportunity to refocus on our purpose, refocus to build a brand new program into a championship contender and we just needed a change of scenery
This needed change is allegedly due to a significant rift between Coach Jackson and his former boss, Grambling Athletic Director Dr Trayvean Scott, as alluded to by OffScript in a recent livestream.
“it’s time to turn this program into one of the best programs in the SWAC, the state, the region, the nation. It’s time to build something that Bulldog Nation can be proud of.”
Jackson takes over a program that went 10-22 overall and 6-12 within the SWAC last season.
