Jackson is in his second season as the Warrior's head coach, coming to Sterling after acquiring experience at all levels of play, from high school to Division I-FBS.

 

Jackson was the head coach at Trinity Bible College, where he led a program that returned just 26 players and coached them to their best record in six years. His players received several Offensive and Defensive NCCAA National

Player of the Week honors. Five players were named to the NCCAA All-American team at the end of the season. Jackson was on staff at Liberty University, where he worked with the defense, helping them to back-to-back .500 or

better seasons, including their first season after transitioning to the FBS. One of the program's signature victories in that time was a win over BIG 12 opponent Baylor University.

 

Jackson has also spent time at Evangel University, a new addition to the KCAC conference, where his defense and special teams ranked in the top 20 in 4 separate categories. The team finished the season as the 21st ranked team in the country. His Division II experience was at Colorado Mesa University, which has had a winning record since 2014. While there, he helped coach the #1 defense in Division II football.

 

Other accolades for Coach Jackson include being named to the 2020 American Football Coaches Association - 35 Under 35 Leadership Class. The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program to identify and develop premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants attend the institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance. Jackson was also named Coach of the Year in 2016 while at Trinity Bible.

 

Coach Jackson had this to say about the opportunity at Sterling College. "My family and I are blessed, excited and thankful for this opportunity to be the next Head Coach at Sterling College. I plan to jump into this role at full speed to continue to develop the current players, build relationships with the community, and bring in the next class of Sterling graduates. We're excited to make Sterling our home. Go Warriors!"

 

Here is what others have to say about Coach Jackson.

 

"Sterling is gaining a great leader of young men both on and off the field. Coach Jackson will engage, unite, and build a great program that will be exciting for Sterling Nation." Robert Wimberly, Executive Assistant/Co-Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers coach at Northern Illinois University.

 

"Darren is a family man with Godly principles. He is genuine and knows how to develop players the right way on the field, as well as for life," said Coach Turner Gill, former head coach at Liberty University.

 

Jackson and his wife, Tina, are from Gloucester, VA. They have two sons, Keon and Maceo.