Reports: Michigan assistant basketball coach Mike Jackson leaving program
The Wolverine.com and the Detroit Free Press are reporting Michigan assistant basketball coach Mike Jackson is leaving for Purdue.
Jackson, who came to Ann Arbor from Dayton in 2005, was the remaining holdover from former coach Tommy Amaker's staff. He spent five seasons with Michigan, two under Amaker and three under current coach John Beilein.
Phone and text messages left with Jackson on his cell phone were not returned Sunday evening. Michigan spokesperson Tom Wywrot could not confirm the report when reached Sunday evening.
Purdue sports information director Cory Walton could not confirm the report on Sunday evening either. The Boilermakers are searching for a replacement for Rick Ray, who left the school for the associate head coaching position at Clemson.
Jackson had been mostly responsible for Michigan's in-state recruiting, a position then divvied up when Beilein hired assistant coach Bacari Alexander last month.
If Jackson leaves, it'd be the third assistant coaching position Michigan has replaced this offseason. Former assistants Jerry Dunn and John Mahoney left the program after the season and were replaced by Jeff Meyer and Alexander.
Graduate manager Patrick Beilein also left to become a full-time assistant at Dartmouth.
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein
Comments
Mike
Mon, Jun 7, 2010 : 1:24 p.m.
I'd have to agree with the Chosen1 post. Plus, you have to think that Mike Jack is running scared. With Beileins apparent lack of loyalty to his staff over many years, he can see the writing on the wall. He most recent let go of Dunn and Mahoney and in the past not bringing his other assistants- Mike got the picture and ran for more secure grounds. The assistants weren't the problem. Beilein is trying to save his own butt.
chosen1
Mon, Jun 7, 2010 : 10:18 a.m.
The guy who brought us Manny and DeShawn and the new kid Evan S. is leaving. Hope Bacari is a helluva recruiter. With all the coaching changes you have to wonder if the assistants are the fall guys for this year's debacle
81wolverine
Mon, Jun 7, 2010 : 8:16 a.m.
This is another setback for the Michigan basketball program in my opinion. Mike Jackson was starting to establish some inroads into the state of Michigan recruiting area. Now, Tom Izzo is probably sticking his feet up on his desk thinking "my job just got even easier!". I think Michigan having a complete staff turnaround (other than head coach obviously) in the off-season is not good when the program is trying to build and establish itself again. It sounds like Michigan's return to the college basketball elite in both the Big 10 and nationally is going to take a long time. Sigh.