Princeton University women’s basketball head coach Courtney Banghart has announced the addition of Chessie Jackson to the Tigers’ coaching staff for the upcoming 2015-16 season.
A four-year starter at Williams College, Jackson served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Smith College last season. Prior to her tenure with the Pioneers, Jackson spent a year as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Rochester.
“We are thrilled to add someone of Chessie’s caliber to our coaching staff,” said Banghart. “She comes to us from great coaching mentors in Lynn Hersey [Smith] and Jim Sheible [Rochester] and gained valuable experience in highly academic and competitive athletic programs.”
“Chessie is a talented coach who will assist in all parts of the program including player development, on floor coaching, recruiting, and scouting,” added Banghart. “Together as a staff, we are already hard at work building on our winning tradition.”
As the assistant basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at Smith last season, Jackson aided with all aspects of the Pioneers’ program while serving as the squad’s lead recruiting coordinator. Working with the team’s post players, she assisted in the development of NEWMAC Rookie of the Year Samantha Alakai.
As an assistant at Rochester during the 2013-14 season, Jackson helped coach first-team All-UAA forward Loren Wagner, second-team all-conference pick Ally Zywicki, and honorable mention selection Danielle McNabb.
“It is an honor to be joining such a storied program in Princeton women’s basketball,” said Jackson. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such an experienced and passionate coaching staff, as well as some of the best and brightest student-athletes in the country. I would like to thank Coach Banghart and the rest of the coaching staff for this opportunity.”
Prior to Rochester, Jackson was a graduate assistant coach at Smith. During Jackson’s initial two-year stint with the Pioneers, Smith posted a 46-11 overall record, capturing the 2011-12 ECAC New England championship before advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament the following season.
A former standout at Williams, Jackson was a four-year starter and senior captain for the Ephs. Helping the team to a pair of NCAA appearances, including a Sweet 16 berth in 2009-10, she finished fourth on the program’s scoring list (1,346) and ninth in rebounds (635). A second-team All-NESCAC honoree as a junior, Jackson garnered first-team all-conference and All-NEWBA accolades during her senior season, while also being named the Ephs’ Most Valuable Player.
Graduating from Williams with a bachelor’s degree in political science with a concentration in leadership studies in 2011, she earned a master’s in exercise and sport studies from Smith in 2013.
Photo Courtesy Princeton Athletics
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