Memphis baseball coach Kerrick Jackson leaves for Missouri job
Memphis baseball coach Kerrick Jackson was hired by Missouri after only one season on the job.
Jackson led the Tigers to a 29-28 record. The 29 wins are the most at Memphis since 2017. Memphis was 10-14 in the AAC.
Jackson lasted just one season with the Tigers, leading them to a 29-28 record. The 29 wins are the most at Memphis since 2017. Memphis was 10-14 in the AAC.
Athletic director Laird Veatch said he was disappointed to lose Jackson so soon after hiring him.
"In just one year, however, coach Jackson revitalized the energy of Memphis baseball, and we look forward to continuing the momentum he helped create," Veatch wrote in a prepared statement Saturday night. "This job is extremely attractive due to our fan base, our location and the renovations to FedExPark/Avron Fogelman Field alongside other commitments made to the program over the last year.
"We will hire another great coach to lead our program, and we are looking forward to continued success.”
Accepting the job at Mizzou marks a homecoming for Jackson, who spent five seasons (2011-15) there as an assistant coach as well as the recruiting coordinator. Jackson is also a native of St. Louis and attended high school at Kirkwood (Missouri). Jackson replaces Steve Bieser, who was let go by Mizzou after the Tigers failed to make the NCAA tournament.
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"It's a great honor to come back to the University of Missouri and lead the baseball program," Jackson said in a Missouri news release. "I have seen this program at its championship best and understand both what it takes to get there and the importance of baseball to the state, region and within the Southeastern Conference. My family and I are looking forward to returning to a University and community which we love. I am grateful to (athletic director) Desireé Reed-Francois and the search committee for trusting me with this tremendous opportunity."
Under Jackson, Memphis finished 2023 with the third-best team ERA in the American Athletic Conference. Led by AAC Pitcher of the Year Dalton Fowler, the Tigers finished with a 5.35 ERA.
Memphis hit .255 as a team with a league-best 18 triples and was No. 5 in the league in fielding percentage.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis baseball coach Kerrick Jackson leaves for Missouri job
