Former Friar new hire for Big East Conference
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
A former Providence College basketball coach has returned to the Big East Conference - in a big way.
Val Ackerman, Commissioner of the Big East Conference, Tuesday announced the appointment of Stu Jackson as Senior Associate Commissioner, Men’s Basketball. Jackson will formally join the conference at its New York City headquarters on July 28th. Jackson's coaching career kicked into gear as a graduate assistant under Rick Pitino at PC in 1985, and he stayed with the Friars as an assistant through their Final Four season in 1987.
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A widely-respected veteran in the basketball industry, Jackson’s career in collegiate and professional basketball spans more than three decades, including 13 years as a senior executive at the National Basketball Association, most recently as Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. He previously spent six years as president and general manager of the Vancouver Grizzlies (1994-2000) and four seasons as assistant and then head coach of the New York Knicks (1987-91). His college basketball resume includes two seasons as head basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin (1992-94) and earlier turns as assistant coach at Providence College (1985-87), Washington State (1983-85), and the University of Oregon (1981-83). Jackson spent the 2013-14 season as a game analyst for Big East basketball on Fox Sports 1 and as a studio analyst for NBA basketball on NBA TV, contributing to “GameTime” and the “Are You Kidding Me?” podcast.
In his role as Senior Associate Commissioner of Men’s Basketball for the Big East, Jackson will oversee men's basketball operations and strategic planning. He joins an elite group of basketball experts at the conference that includes former NCAA EVP Tom Jernstedt (Senior Advisor), former top NCAA referee John Cahill (Supervisor of Officials), and NCAA Rules Secretary Art Hyland (Consultant, Playing Rules and Officiating).
“Few people in basketball can match Stu Jackson's experiences at all levels of the game, and we are very excited that he will bring his leadership skills and wealth of expertise to the Big East," said Commissioner Ackerman. "We have set our sights on keeping the Big East at the forefront of college basketball, and Stu will play a critical role as our schools and coaches work to maintain top-flight programs and our student-athletes strive to fulfill their potential, both on and off the court.”
“The sport of basketball is my lifelong passion, and I am honored to join Val and the Big East basketball management team as the conference looks to the future,” said Jackson. “The Big East has one of the most storied histories in college basketball, and I am eager to contribute to its continued successes, especially during such a pivotal time in its evolution.”
As EVP of Basketball Operations for the NBA, Jackson's wide range of duties included oversight of game operations, scheduling, discipline, playing rules, officiating, data collection and analysis, technology and international basketball operations. Before joining the NBA league office, Jackson was the first general manager of the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies in 1994, where he shaped all basketball and business facets of the new organization. Prior to that time, Jackson coached at the University of Wisconsin, leading the Badgers to their first NCAA Tournament berth and victory in more than 45 years.
Jackson’s first NBA appointment came in 1989 when he was named head coach of the New York Knicks. Thirty-three years old at the time, Jackson became the second-youngest head coach in league history. During his tenure, the Knicks went 52-45, upsetting the Boston Celtics in the 1990 playoffs before succumbing to the eventual NBA champion Detroit Pistons.
A graduate of Seattle University, Jackson received a bachelor of arts in business administration with a concentration in management. He has held board positions on the University of Oregon Foundation Board of Trustees (2010-2014), the FIBA Technical Commission (2009-2013), the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Trustees (2006-2013), and the USA Basketball Board of Directors (2001-2012).
