Paul Jackson is in his fourth year as Utah State’s Director of Athletic Development for football.
In 2023, Jackson helped Utah State to six wins and its third-straight bowl game as it played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Overall, it was USU’s 11th bowl game in the last 13 seasons.
Utah State also had three players garner All-America honors following the 2023 season, while nine players received various all-Mountain West accolades.
During the 2022 campaign, Jackson helped Utah State to six wins and an appearance in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. USU also tied for second place in the Mountain Division of the MW with a 5-3 mark as the Aggies had nine players earn various all-conference accolades, including a pair of All-Americans.
In his first season at Utah State, Jackson helped the Aggies to their best season in school history as they tied the school record with 11 wins (11-3), won their first-ever MW Championship with a 46-13 victory at No. 19 San Diego State, posted a 24-13 win against Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl and finished the season ranked 24th in the nation in both polls.
Prior to joining Utah State, Jackson spent the 2020 season as the director of athletic development for football at South Carolina for head coach Will Muschamp.
Prior to South Carolina, Jackson spent eight years as the director for athletic development for football at Ole Miss, working for head coaches Hugh Freeze and Matt Luke. During Jackson’s tenure in Oxford, the Rebels achieved four bowl appearances, including back-to-back New Year’s Six bowls in 2014 and 2015.
Jackson arrived in Oxford after spending the 2011 season at Southern Mississippi, where he oversaw strength and conditioning for the entire USM athletics department with direct responsibility over football. In his one season there, the football team had its best record in school history at 12-2 and captured the Conference USA championship.
Jackson arrived in Hattiesburg, Miss., after serving in 2010 as the director of athletic development for football at Miami (Ohio). In his lone season, he helped the Redhawks to the 2010 MAC Championship and a victory in the 2011 GoDaddy Bowl, becoming the first team in NCAA history to go from double-digit losses to double-digit wins in one year (1-11 in 2009 to 10-4 in 2010).
From 2007-10, Jackson served as an assistant strength coach at LSU, working directly with the Tigers’ football and volleyball teams. During his time in Baton Rouge, La., Jackson won an SEC and national championship with the football team, as well as three consecutive SEC Western Division titles and one SEC championship with the volleyball team. While working for the Tigers, Jackson worked under and was mentored by strength and conditioning legend Tommy Moffitt.
A native of White Plains, N.Y., Jackson got his start in the business as a professional intern strength coach with the NFL’s New York Giants. He also spent time as a performance enhancement specialist at the Parisi Speed School in Garwood, N.J., where the focus is sport-specific speed and agility training, as well as combine prep.
He is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association.
During his college days at Montclair State (N.J.), Jackson lettered in football, spending time at both fullback and linebacker. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 2006 and later received his master’s in kinesiology from LSU in 2009.
He is married to the former Kristina Hull, who played softball at Georgia Tech and has been a Winter Olympic hopeful in the skeleton. The couple met when they were both on the strength and conditioning staff at LSU.
PAUL JACKSON FILE
Coaching History
2021- Utah State – Director of Athletic Development for Football
2020 South Carolina – Director of Athletic Development for Football
2012-19 Ole Miss – Strength and Conditioning Head Coach
2011 Southern Mississippi – Strength and Conditioning Head Coach
2010 Miami (Ohio) – Director of Athletic Conditioning for Football
2007-09 LSU – Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Bowl Games (12)
Utah State (3): 2023 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl; 2022 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl; 2021 LA Bowl
Ole Miss (4): 2016 Sugar Bowl; 2014 Peach Bowl; 2013 Music City Bowl; 2012 BBVA Compass Bowl
Southern Miss (1): 2011 Hawaii Bowl
Miami (Ohio) (1): 2011 GoDaddy Bowl
LSU (3): 2010 Capital One Bowl; 2008 Chick-Fil-A Bowl; 2008 BCS National Championship
National Championship (1)
LSU (1): 2007
Conference Championship (4)
Utah State (1): Mountain West, 2021
Southern Miss (1): Conference USA, 2011
Miami (Ohio) (1): Mid-American Conference, 2010
LSU (1): Southeastern Conference, 2007
Playing Experience
2004 Montclair State (N.J.) – Fullback / Linebacker
Education
2009 LSU – Physical Education (M.S.)
2006 Montclair State (N.J.) – Kinesiology (B.S.)
Family
Wife – Kristina