Cornelius “Corny” Jackson to be introduced at press conference on Wednesdsay
The Marshall University Board of Governors unanimously approved a resolution today during a special session authorizing President Brad D. Smith to officially hire Cornelius “Corny” Jackson to serve as the next Marshall University Men’s Basketball Coach.
The Oak Hill, West Virginia, native becomes the team’s 30th coach.
President Brad D. Smith said, when reviewing long-term plans for the team with Coach Dan D’Antoni, the coach personally recommended Jackson to fill the position when the time came for a leadership change.
“Let me begin by expressing our heartfelt gratitude to Danny D’Antoni, a beloved figure and true ambassador for Marshall University,” Smith said. “Danny’s longstanding history with our institution–first as a student athlete, followed by successful careers coaching at the high school and professional levels, then returning to coach his alma mater’s team for ten years speaks for itself.
“The decision to not renew his contract was very difficult, but this decision was made somewhat easier thanks to Coach working with Christian (Spears) and me last year to name Corny Jackson as a coach in waiting.”
Smith said that great coaches do more than build a team. They build a program like what D’Antoni did. Smith went on to say that the internal succession architecture is the reason that a national search did not need to be conducted.
Jackson spent the last seven seasons as an assistant for the Thundering Herd under D’Antoni and was promoted in June 2023 to Associate Head Coach – a position in which he served during the 2023-24 season.
Marshall University will introduce Jackson at a press conference at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 3, in the Cam Henderson Center.
The athletics contract was the only item before the board today. Members will meet on April 10 for their regularly scheduled meeting.
