Mark Jackson

Mark Jackson (born September 14, 1972) is the athletic director for Villanova University. Previously, Jackson was the senior associate athletic director for the University of Southern California. Education and Playing career Jackson graduated from Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Massachusetts. He then received a bachelor's degree in Government from Colby College, where played defensive back on the football team from 1991 to 1994. Jackson also received a master's degree in Public Policy from Trinity College (Connecticut) in 1997. Coaching career Jackson began his coaching career in football as a graduate assistant at Trinity from 1995 to 1996 as he pursued his master's degree. Jackson joined the New England Patriots' coaching staff as a special teams coaching assistant under then-Patriots head coach Pete Carroll in 1998. Carroll was fired following the 1999, but Jackson stayed on with new head coach Bill Belichick's coaching staff as a special teams and running backs coaching assistant through 2000.