Garon Jackson is in his third season as the head men’s and women’s cross-country/track and field coach. In his short time at Claflin University he has had a tremendous impact and he and the program have accomplished several great feats. During his first three seasons, Jackson has transformed Claflin University Track & Field and Cross Country teams to a dominant all around program and has developed Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Individual Champions, NCAA Division II National Qualifiers and NCAA Division II All Americans.
It didn’t take long for Jackson to make a great impact on the Lady Panthers and Panthers’ cross country and track & field programs with some great successes during his first three seasons as head coach. The highlight came in February of 2023 when he led Claflin University to the 2023 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s Indoor Track & Field Championship, the first in school history and the first men’s CIAA championship in school history as well. For his efforts, Jackson was named 2023 CIAA Men’s Indoor Coach of the year.
Prior to taking over the Panthers’ programs, Claflin spent nine years as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Bethune-Cookman University. During his time at Bethune-Cookman, Jackson led the guidance of numerous regional and national qualifiers. During his time at Bethune-Cookman, the team won two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) indoor track & field championships (2015, 2016) and three MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships (2014, 2015, and 2016) along with three different individual MEAC champions, among several other honors.
Jackson also spent five seasons as the head coach at his alma mater, Voorhees College where he had several great accomplishments. During his stint at Voorhees, Jackson produced several National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Qualifiers as well as All-Americans and an NAIA National Champion before heading to Bethune-Cookman.
Jackson was also an accomplished athlete in his own career. He was a NAIA National Qualifier in the 800 and 1500 meters after wrapping his prep career as a South Carolina High School State Champion in the 800 and 1600 meters. As a collegiate competitor, Jackson competed as a middle/long distance runner for the Tigers. He still holds the Voorhees and Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIAC) records in the 800, 1500, 5000, and 10000 meters in addition to cross country records. Jackson was the EIAC Most Valuable Runner for four years in cross country and three years in Track and Field, finishing undefeated at the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIAC) Championships throughout his entire collegiate career.
For his efforts, Jackson was named to the Sumter Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
Jackson earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Voorhees in 1999 and a Master’s in Sports Administration from Southern New Hampshire University in 2019. Jackson is married to Kim Jackson and they have three children -- Jalen, Ciara and Javontae.
He is a USA Track & Field (USATF) Level II Endurance Coach and holds a Strength & Conditioning Coach Certification from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Coach Jackson is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and in August 2020 he was chosen to participate in the TruNorth Sports Coach Development Academy.
COACHING CAREER
Claflin University (Head Coach) Three Years
2023 CIAA Men’s Indoor Track and Field Champion Team
2023 CIAA Men’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year
2023 CIAA Men’s Indoor Track & Field 200m Champion (Jonathan Flemister)
2023 CIAA Men’s Indoor Track & Field 800m Champion (Zion Murry)
2023 CIAA Men’s Indoor Track & Field Mile Champion (Reginald Gore)
2023 CIAA Men’s Indoor Track & Field Distance Medley Relay Champion
2023 CIAA Men’s Indoor Track & Field 4x400m Relay Champion
2023 CIAA Women’s Indoor Track & Field 400m Champion (Zoe Adams)
2022 CIAA Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Highest Team Academic Award
2022 USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Second-Team All-American Discus (Zaria Nelson)
2022 CIAA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field 400m Champion (Zoe Adams)
2022 CIAA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Shot Put Champion (Zaria Nelson)
2022 CIAA Men’s Indoor Track & Field Highest Team Academic Award
2022 NCAA Division II Women’s Indoor Track & Field Women’s 400m National Qualifier (Zoe Adams)
2022 CIAA Women’s Indoor Track & Field 400m Champion (Zoe Adams)
2022 CIAA Women’s Indoor Track & Field Shot Put Champion (Zaria Nelson)
2020 USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Men’s Indoor Track & Field All-American 400m (Derick St. Jean)
Bethune-Cookman University (Assistant Coach) Nine Years
2018 MEAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field 800m Champion (Jonathan Moore, 1:49.30)
2018 MEAC Women’s Outdoor Track & Field 400m Champion (Asia Joe, 53.32)
2018 Three NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track & Field East Regional Qualifiers and Men’s 4x400 relay
2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Outdoor Track & Field East Regional Qualifier 400
2018 Two NCAA Division I Men’s East Regional Qualifiers and Men’s 4x400m relay
2018 NCAA National Qualifiers Jonathan Moore 1:47.89, Jordan Williams 45.75, 4x400m 4:06.79
2017 MEAC Men’s 800m Champion (Jonathan Moore, 1:50.96)
2017 MEAC Men’s Indoor 800m Champion (Jonathan Moore, 1:51.51)
2016 MEAC Men’s 400m Champion (Jonathan Moore)
2016 MEAC Men’s Indoor Track & Field Team Championship
2015 MEAC Men’s Indoor Track & Field Team Championship
2016 MEAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Team Championship
2015 MEAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Team Championship
2014 MEAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Team Championship
2014 NCAA Division I South Regional Cross-Country National Qualifier
2011 MEAC Women’s Cross-Country Champion
Voorhees College (Head Coach) Six Years
2010 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field 200m National Champion (Jeffery Pendergrass)
2010 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field 110m Hurdles National Qualifier (Jasper Fells)
2010 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field 110m Hurdles National Qualifier (Jonathan Singleton)
2010 NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field 200m National Qualifier (Raven White)
2010 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field 200m National Champion (Jeffery Pendergrass)
2010 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field 60m National Qualifier (Quinton Bell)
2010 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field 200m National Qualifier (Raven White)
2009 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field 200m All-American (Jeffery Pendergrass)
2009 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National 110m Hurdles Champion (Jasper Fells)
2009 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field 100/200m National Qualifier (Quinton Bell)
2009 NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field 100m All-American (Shantrell Jenkins)
2009 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field 200m National Qualifier (Jeffery Pendergrass)
2009 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field 200m All-American (Quinton Bell)
2009 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field 60m All-American (Shantrell Jenkins)
2009 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field 200m National Qualifier (Jeffery Pendergrass)
2009 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field 200m National Qualifier (Quinton Bell)
2008 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field 200m National Qualifier (Jeffery Pendergrass)
2008 NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field 200m National Qualifier (Quinton Bell)
2008 NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field 100m All-American (Shantrell Jenkins)
2008 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field 60m National Qualifier (Quinton Bell)
2008 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field 60m National Qualifier (Shantrell Jenkins)
2008 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field 400m National Qualifier (Jeffery Pendergrass)
