Busting Brackets
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SWAC Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose

LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Mike Davis of the Texas Southern Tigers reacts during game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 18, 2013 at United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 80-71. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Mike Davis of the Texas Southern Tigers reacts during game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 18, 2013 at United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 80-71. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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RICHMOND, VA – NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Lewis Jackson of the Alabama State Hornets (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
RICHMOND, VA – NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Lewis Jackson of the Alabama State Hornets (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

7. Lewis Jackson – Alabama State (2005-2020)

After his career as a forward with the Hornets in the early 1980’s, Jackson returned to the school in 2000 to begin his coaching career. After five solid years on Rob Spivery’s staff, he was promoted to head coach and took over his first program in 2005. Jackson had helped lead this program to a pair of NCAA Tournaments as an assistant coach, though more success was on the horizon.

Alabama State has been a pretty solid program throughout Jackson’s entire tenure. He led the Hornets to pair of regular-season titles early on and returned the program to the NCAA Tournament in both 2009 and 2011. At one point, Alabama State had finished top 5 in the SWAC for nine straight seasons, though that 22-win campaign in 2009 is clearly the standout.

These last four seasons have been less successful for Jackson and the program seems to be on a bit of a downturn again. It’s been nearly a decade since their last NCAA Tournament, though he did take the Hornets to the CIT back in 2014. While the last few seasons have been bleak, he’s been a part of each of the program’s Tournament bids and is certainly someone who’s made an impact in the SWAC.