William “Hud” Jackson begins his 12th year at the helm of the University of Arkansas at Monticello football program. Jackson was named the 25th head football coach in UAM’s history and has been mentoring Boll Weevils since 2011.
In the last eleven years, UAM is 44-88 under Jackson. His 44 wins are now the second-most all-time in Boll Weevil football history. Jackson has also guided seven All-American honorees, nine All-Region selections and 50 All-Great American Conference athletes. Several of Jackson’s former players have also gone on to play at the next level including Erik Croker (NFL), Jalen Tolliver (NFL), D.J. Stephens (AFL), Cole Sears (CFL) and Keith Reynolds (CFL).
In 2019, Jackson led the Weevils to a 5-6 overall record, but it was highlighted by a 4-1 record at Cotton Boll Stadium. UAM was led offensively by GAC Freshman of the Year Demilon Brown. Brown was UAM’s first Freshman of the Year honoree since the GAC’s inception in 2011. Jackson also had six other GAC honorees and it was the most selections they have had since 2011.
In 2018, Jackson coached the Boll Weevils to a 6-6 record and coached All-American DeAndre Washington to a stellar sophomore season. The Weevils also earned an invitation to play in the Corsicana Bowl in Corsicana, Texas, after knocking-off rival, Southern Arkansas in the Battle of the Timberlands on Senior Day.
Jackson was named UAM’s 25th head football coach on his 43rd birthday, December 14, 2010. He led the Boll Weevils to a 5-6 record during his first year in the green and white, including a stunning 23-9 victory over then ranked No. 4 Valdosta State in the fifth week of the season. He guided the Boll Weevils to a fourth place finish in the first year of the Great American Conference after the league’s head coaches picked UAM to finish last.
Along the way, UAM ranked in the top half of 20 different GAC statistical categories, including the league’s best numbers in total interceptions (17) and first downs (21.8 per game). His offense ranked third with an average of just under 400 yards per game, and his defense also ranked third with just 362.5 yards per game allowed.
Jackson and his staff produced nine all-conference selections during the 2011 campaign, including a trio of first team honorees in receiver D.J. Stephens, returning offensive lineman Seth Oxner and punter Derek Jambon.
In addition to his attention to on-field production, Jackson’s staff has also revamped the UAM football roster, striving to secure as much local talent as possible. In his first recruiting class prior to the 2011 season, Jackson unveiled a list of 34 high school seniors, 22 of which coming from within a 90-mile radius of the UAM campus. More of the same this past February with another dozen locked up from within that area.
Prior to taking the UAM job, Jackson had served the previous six seasons as associate head coach at University of Central Arkansas, a member of the NCAA Division I-Football Championship Subdivision.
As associate head coach at UCA, Jackson aided Clint Conque’s Bears in the school’s transition from the Gulf South Conference to becoming one of the nation’s top Division I-FCS programs. He was the director of football operations at UCA, which included the organization of the team’s travel, the bidding and ordering of all football equipment and supervision of student managers.
In addition to his duties as UCA’s director of football operations, Jackson coached the running backs and return specialists.
At UCA, Jackson coached Brent Grimes, a two-time All-Southland Conference running back (2008-09) and an All-America honoree in 2009. Jackson also coached Kentrel Rogers, who earned All-America honors in 2005, and most recently was named to the Gulf South Conference All-Decade team.
Two of Jackson’s return specialists were the best in the SLC. Tristan Jackson earned All-America and All-SLC honors after leading all NCAA divisions in 2007 with an average of 23.6 yards per punt return and 25.8 yards per kickoff return. A year later, T.J. Adams led the SLC with an average of 26.6 yards per kickoff return.
The Bears were 7-4 in 2010 with a 4-3 mark in the SLC, and were ranked in the FCS Top 25 poll for the fourth straight season. In 2008, Jackson helped UCA to its most successful season since moving to Division I-FCS, posting a 10-2 overall record while winning the SLC title with a 6-1 league record. The Bears finished ranked No. 12 in the final polls and had 15 All-SLC honorees.
Prior to joining the staff at UCA, Jackson served a variety of roles at Central Catholic High School in Morgan City, La. from 1997-2005. In addition to being the athletics director, head football coach and head baseball coach, he also served as the school’s disciplinarian, textbook coordinator and mission development coordinator, as well as assisting the school’s fundraising initiatives.
At CCHS, Jackson led his football teams to an overall record of 65-32, including a state runner-up finish in 1997 and three district championships (1997, 2000, 2004). After each of those titles, he was named district coach of the year. He coached Curtis Randall at CCHS, who played for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks in 2004.
As head baseball coach, Jackson led CCHS to an overall record of 84-36, including three state championships (2002, 2004-05). He earned district coach of the year honors four times in baseball (2000, 2002-04).
Jackson entered the coaching ranks as an assistant football and baseball coach at Rayne (La.) High School in 1992, and remained on staff until 1993. At Rayne, Jackson assisted the school’s baseball team in its 1992 state championship campaign.
In 1993, Jackson moved to Assumption High School in Napoleonville, La., where he served for three seasons as the football team’s offensive coordinator and assistant baseball coach.
The next stop for Jackson was Oberlin (La.) High School from 1995-97. During that tenure, he served as the school’s athletics director, head football coach and head baseball coach.
Jackson graduated from E.D. White High School in Thibodaux, La. in 1987, where he was an all-state baseball player. He continued his education at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1992.
Jackson was a three-year starter at quarterback for the Cowboys. He also lettered in baseball, earning the team’s most valuable player and outstanding pitcher awards in 1991.
Jackson’s father, Sonny, was the head football coach at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux from 1981-1986, and is still the program’s most successful coach. During his tenure, Sonny Jackson led the Colonels to a 39-28-1 record, winning the Gulf Star Conference in 1984 and taking NSU to its first ever NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearance in 1986. He was also the head coach at McNeese State for three seasons from 1987-89.
Hud Jackson and his wife, Patricia, were married in 1989. They have one son, William, Jr., and two daughters, Alexis and her husband, William, and Baleigh.
| 2011-Present |
University of Arkansas - Monticello • Head Football Coach |
44-88 |
| 2005-2010 |
University of Central Arkansas • Assistant Football/Associate Head Coach |
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| 1996-2004 |
Central Catholic High School • Athletic Director/Head Football & Baseball Coach |
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| 1994-1996 |
Oberlin High School • Athletic Director/Head Football Coach |
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| 1992-1994 |
Assumption High School • Assistant Football & Baseball Coach |
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| 1991-1992 |
Rayne High School • Assistant Football & Baseball Coach |
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