Missouri to hire Kerrick Jackson as next baseball coach
Missouri's search to replace Steve Bieser lasted less than a week. Mizzou will hire Memphis head coach Kerrick Jackson as its next baseball coach, sources confirmed to PowerMizzou.com. No official announcement has been made, but Jackson is expected to meet with his team in Memphis tonight. Sources told PowerMizzou.com that Mizzou players will have a team meeting tonight as well.
Mizzou officially announced the hire shortly after 9:30 p.m.
"He's a tireless recruiter, fierce competitor and a coach with deep roots in the Midwest," Director of Athletics Desiree Reed-Francois said in a release. "Coach Jackson knows what success looks like in college baseball, specifically at Mizzou. He has a vision for success and a tremendous amount of experience at all levels of baseball. I look forward to him building on our traditions and returning us to the national stage. We proudly welcome Coach Jackson, Talia, Zion and Lazarus home to Columbia."
Jackson returns for a second stint with Mizzou baseball. He was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under Tim Jamieson from 2010-15. Jamieson is currently Jackson's pitching coach at Memphis. Blair DeBord, who was hired at Missouri to lead the Tiger Scholarship Fund on May 1st, was the baseball sport administrator at Memphis previously and was instrumental in hiring Jackson there last May.
"It's a great honor to come back to the University of Missouri and lead the baseball program," Jackson said in the school's release. "I have seen this program at its championship best and understand both what it takes to get there and the importance of baseball to the state, region and within the Southeastern Conference. My family and I are looking forward to returning to a University and community which we love. I am grateful to Desireé Reed-Francois and the search committee for trusting me with this tremendous opportunity."
Jackson is a Missouri native. He graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1994. His college career began at St. Louis Community College. From there, he went to Bethune-Cookman and then to Nebraska.
His coaching career began in 2001 as an assistant at Fairfield. He had stops at Emporia State, Coffeyville CC, Jefferson College, Nicholls State and St. Louis CC, plus two years as a scout with the Washington Nationals before being hired as part of Jamieson's staff. When he left Missouri, Jackson spent three years as an agent before being hired as the head coach at Southern University. He led the Jaguars to a SWAC title and the NCAA Tournament in his second season and was hired at Memphis in May of 2022.
In his first season at Memphis, Jackson's Tigers won 29 games, the most for the program since 2017.
His time at Missouri coincided with the playing careers of Rob Zastryzny, Trey Harris, Tanner Houck and Peter Fairbanks among others. He was also part of the 2012 Big 12 Tournament Championship team. That was the last year in which Mizzou made the NCAA Tournament.
Bieser was fired last Sunday after seven seasons as Missouri's head coach. The Tigers were 188-155-1 in his seven seasons, but never made the NCAA Tournament or finished with a winning record in SEC play. Missouri was 30-24 this year, including 10-20 in SEC play. The Tigers' season ended with a loss to Auburn in the first round of the SEC Tournament.
An introductory press conference for Jackson could happen as soon as Monday.
Stay up to date on all the Mizzou news with your premium subscription
Talk about this story and more in The Tigers' Lair
Make sure you're caught up on all the Tiger news and headlines
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video and live streaming coverage