Jackson Hired as Cross Country and Track Assistant Coach
GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNC Greensboro (UNCG) Head Coach for Cross Country and Track Kaleigh Roach announced the hiring of Bruce Jackson as an assistant coach to the program on Wednesday.
Jackson joins the Spartans after spending the last five and a half years at Academy of Art University. He began with the Urban Knights in March 2019 as a volunteer before working his way up to director of operations and then being promoted to head coach cross country/assistant track coach in September 2021.
"I'm excited to welcome Bruce to our Spartan Family," stated Coach Roach. "Throughout the interview process, it was clear that Coach Jackson would be someone to help encourage and challenge our student-athletes. He comes to Greensboro with a wealth of knowledge and experience developing athletes at the high school level all the way up to the national level. I believe Bruce is someone who will successfully carry out the values and vison of the UNCG cross country and track programs!"
Jackson guided Katharina Goetschi to her first two All-America honors after breaking the program's 3000-meter steeplechase record for the fourth time at Outdoor Nationals while adding a strong result in the 5000-meter run. Her efforts came following PacWest titles in both events.
Academy of Art men's and women's cross country took important steps forward in 2023, after debuting just half of their rosters. Multiple Pacific West Conference Runner of the Week honors highlighted the Urban Knights' journey toward the postseason, where both teams finished among the top seven at the PacWest Championships. Two standouts, Goetschl and Grace Southern, went on to become All-West Region Team honorees.
Working to rewrite the program's record book for the second consecutive season, the Urban Knights were led by Lisa Redlinger's new top marks in the indoor 5000m plus the outdoor mile and 10,000m. An All-Region honoree alongside several of her distance teammates such as Southern and Audrey Rosencrans, Redlinger joined that pair and Goetschl in contributing points to the women's fourth-place PacWest finish which saw Goetschl crowned the 3000m steeplechase champion.
Numerous new records fell for Academy of Art track & field in 2022 as Natalia Novak took over the top position in the indoor mile and 3000m and the outdoor 800m in addition to contributing to a new distance medley relay record. Novak added three more All-American honors to her resume that year along with a PacWest title in the 1500m. Meanwhile, Rosencrans added new program bests in the indoor 5000m as well as the 3000m steeplechase and 10,000m.
In 2021, the first Academy of Art cross country season in two years was a truly memorable one as the Urban Knights positively progressed to several historic achievements in October and November. The women's team achieved its first Pacific West Conference title. They joined the men in collecting All-Region honors two weeks later and emerging from the women's first NCAA Division II Nationals appearance was the second All-American in program history in 2021 PacWest Runner of the Year Natalia Novak. The campaign included Jackson being named 2021 PacWest Coach of the Year on the women's side.
Delivering some incredible performances amid a limited schedule and other challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Academy of Art track & field season triumphantly featured multiple individual NCAA Division II National Champions, including James Young in the indoor mile and outdoor 1500m. In addition to Young's new records in those events, top program marks were also delivered on the women's side by Natalia Novak, the eventual PacWest Most Outstanding Track Athlete and an All-American, in the outdoor 1500m and 3000m.
Improving on postseason performances from the year prior, the 2019 Academy of Art men's and women's cross country seasons brought the PacWest Runner of the Year and individual conference champion Hasna Kaarour on the women's side, seven All-PacWest Team honors plus the PacWest Newcomer of the Year Young and the program's third woman at NCAA Division II Nationals.
Prior to earning a Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2012, Jackson graduated from University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Law, Society, & Justice in 2006. At UW, he was a member of the cross country and track & field teams where he was a three-time All-American and a 400m, 4x400m, and Distance Medley Relay NCAA championships qualifier. He also was the 2007 USATF Club National 800m Champion. Moreover, he was a USATF National Indoor Championship qualifier at 800m in 2007 and 2008.
Jackson is a USATF Level 2 certified coach in endurance. Additionally, he is a USTFCCCA certified endurance specialist with a master's endorsement in the long distances, and has received a USTFCCCA certification in Strength & Conditioning. In 2016, he was selected as a USATF/USOC Emerging Elite Coach.
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