West Virginia University Athletics

Andrew Jackson is in his fourth year as the defensive line coach.

In 2023, Jackson’s defensive line was able to use as many as three-deep across the front, showcasing development at the position. West Virginia’s defense ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 and tied for No. 19 in Power Five in sacks (33). The defense produced 84 tackles for loss (6.5 per game), ranking No. 2 in the Big 12 and tied for No. 14 among Power 5 schools. The defensive line was responsible for 16 sacks and 37 tackles for loss.

In 2022, fifth-year defensive tackle Dante Stills finished as the school’s all-time leader in games played (59) and tackles for loss  (52½) and was fourth in sacks (23½). He finished his career earning All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors twice (2021, 2022), second team twice (2019, 2020), earning a spot in the 2023 NFL Combine and being drafted in the sixth round by the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

The defense finished No. 4 in the Big 12 in rushing defense, and over the past two seasons, posted 53 sacks, finishing in the top five of the league. Defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson also earned third team honors by Phil Steele.

In 2021, the defensive line finished with 20 1/2 sacks and 40 tackles for loss and were ranked No. 39 nationally in tackles for loss. Dante Stills earned All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors by the league coaches, Associated Press and Phil Steele after leading the defense with seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss.

Taijh Alston was named one of the Mayo Clinic semifinalists for Comeback Player of the Year, Jordan Jefferson was named an All-Big 12 Third-Team honoree by PFF College and Akheem Mesidor was named an All-Big 12 Third-Team selection by Phil Steele.

Jackson came to Morgantown after serving as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for defense at Old Dominion in 2020.

He joined the ODU staff after spending the 2019 season at James Madison as the defensive tackles coach. While at JMU, the Dukes led the FCS in total defense and were third in scoring defense. Defensive tackle Mike Greene led the Colonial Athletic Association in sacks by an interior lineman and was all-conference.

Jackson was the defensive quality control coach at Mississippi State in 2018, where he helped the Bulldogs to an 8-5 record and berth in the Outback Bowl. MSU ranked in the top 10 nationally in eight defensive categories, including a No. 1 ranking in total defense (263.1). Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat were All-SEC.

In 2017, Jackson coached the defensive line at Fordham. He was responsible for game planning the run game, pass protection and third-down blitz packages and prepared the opponent scouting report for the defense.

Prior to that, Jackson was a graduate assistant with the defensive line for two years at Penn State. Two players he worked with earned national attention, All-American Carl Nassib and consensus All-American Anthony Zettel. Nassib was the Big Ten’s Bronko Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and was the Hendricks Award and Lombardi Award winner.

Jackson spent two years as an assistant coach at Stony Brook, first as a graduate assistant and then as assistant defensive line coach. One of his players, Aaron Thompson went on to rank among the top 10 nationally in sacks and was All-CAA First Team.

Jackson started his coaching career at LIU Post as a graduate assistant.

Jackson was a three-year captain and three-year starter for LIU Post. He was an All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Second Team honoree as a senior after recording five sacks and 12 tackles for loss for the Pioneers. He was a member of the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society and was awarded two of the athletics department’s most prestigious honors, the Christine Webb Award and the Roy Illowit Award.

Jackson earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education science and coaching from Long Island University in 2011 and three master’s degrees, one in Interdisciplinary studies from Long Island in 2012, liberal arts and science from Stony Brook in 2014 and educational leadership from Penn State in 2017. 

He was a member of the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society and was awarded two of the athletics department’s most prestigious honors, the Christine Webb Award and the Roy Illowit Award.

Jackson earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education science and coaching from Long Island University in 2011 and three master’s degrees, one in Interdisciplinary studies from Long Island in 2012, liberal arts and science from Stony Brook in 2014 and educational leadership from Penn State in 2017.

He and his wife, the former Blair Kersh, have a daughter, Naomi.