Amber Jackson

Amber Jackson (born June 27, 1984) is a former collegiate All-American and retired three-time pro All-Star, left-handed-hitting softball player at shortstop and a former college softball head coach, originally from Fontana, California. She played for three years with the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats, from 2003-05, before transferring to the Maryland Terrapins for the 2007 season. She is the season and career leader in numerous offense categories for both institutions, and is the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference career leader in hits, triples and runs in three seasons. She played professional softball in the National Pro Fastpitch from 2007-09 with the defunct Washington Glory, winning a title in 2007, and the USSSA Pride. Jackson led the Delaware State Hornets for five years from 2015-19 before pursuing teaching abroad. She is one of nine NCAA Division I hitters to amass a career .400 average, 200 RBIs with at least 50 home runs and an .800 slugging percentage; she is also one of the elite players to steal 100 bases, score 200 runs with 300 hits and a .400 average, the only NCAA player to belong to both clubs.[1]

Bethune–Cookman Wildcats & Maryland Terrapins

Jackson opened her career by being named First Team All-MEAC conference and "Rookie of The Year."[2] In addition, she broke school and conference records for season RBIs and hits with career highs. As well, she also set new Wildcat records in home runs, triples, doubles, slugging percentage and average, the latter of which was another career best and led the NCAA in 2003.[3]

As a sophomore, Jackson continued her success by being renamed First Team all-conference as well as "Player of The Year." She broke her own home run record and hit nearly .450 for the 2004 campaign.[4] In 2005, Jackson once again captured identical conference honors from the previous year but also was named a National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Second Team All-American.[5] She would become the first and is still the only softball player from the HBCUs to accomplish the honor. She posted a new home run total for the school as well as 77 runs to top the NCAA listing for the year.[3]

Jackson would lead the Wildcats to a historic run in the NCAA softball tournament by also becoming the first, and so far only, HBCU team to advance to a Super Regional. Against the Texas Longhorns, Jackson managed to get a hit and walk but eventually was eliminated with her team on May 28.[6] It would be Jackson's last season as she would follow Head Coach Laura Watten to the University of Maryland.

In her three seasons, she owned every school record for hitting and currently remains the best for average (.464), RBIs (175), home runs (34), triples (28), hits (284), slugging (.797%) and merely ranks second in doubles and walks.[7] Excluding the average and walks, she too held every other MEAC record and still does for triples and hits, but stands top-5 for all other conference career statistics.

Playing in the ACC, Jackson was named 2007 First Team all-conference and repeated as an All-American.[8][9][10] In one season she would set lasting school records in home runs, walks, runs and slugging percentage. Her 24 career best home run total (led the NCAA) was also a conference best, along with the slugging, both now rank top-5 all-time for an ACC season.[3][11] Finally, her career best stolen bases also led the ACC and her average, RBIs and hits are top-10 Maryland Terrapins records.

On February 16, the Terrapin knocked in a career single game high 7 RBIs vs. the East Carolina Pirates.[12] In a doubleheader on March 13, Jackson reached the 200 milestone for RBIs defeating the UMBC Retrievers.[13] The next month on April 11 vs. the Georgetown Hoyas in another doubleheader, Jackson hit a walk-off home run against Jennifer Connelly in game one for the 50th in her career.[14]

At the end of the season, Jackson uniquely would and does rank top-5 in home runs and stolen bases for a Terrapin career for just that one season.[15] In an overall summation of her career at both schools, Jackson is a top-10 NCAA Division I career hitter in batting average (8th for a four-year career) and triples (tied 10th) all-time.[16]

NPF

Jackson was selected in the second round (14th overall) by the Washington Glory in the NPF draft on February 14, 2007. She would go on to be named All-NPF and "Player of The Year."[17] That year she led the league in RBIs and home runs. She drove in 5 of those for a career best on June 15.[18] Beginning on June 22-July 6 she posted a six game hit streak, hitting .555 (10/18) with 6 RBIs, 2 home runs, 2 walks and 3 stolen bases. For one of the games on July 1 vs. the Akron Racers, she achieved 3 hits for another personal high.[19] Jackson would also make it into the Cowles Cup Championship vs. the Rockford Thunder and claimed the title behind a 3-1 win on August 26.[20]

Jackson and the Glory would be able to defend their title in 2008 but eventually lost 6-4 on August 28. Jackson had a RBI triple in the loss.[21] The next season, Jackson would join the new USSSA Pride after the Glory folded operations. With the Pride, she would earn a second All-NPF honor. It was Jackson's last season making her last appearance in the title game losing to the Rockford Thunder.[22]

Personal

Jackson is African-American. With a Masters of Education from The University of Maryland, Jackson found work as a high school teacher and softball coach. In 2011, she would return to her alma mater and join the coaching staff.[23] In her first season, she helped lead the team to a regional appearance.[24][25] In 2012, Jackson was inducted into the Bethune–Cookman Hall of Fame.[26] Jackson was hired to coach the Delaware State Hornets in 2014.[27] In 2017, Jackson was named to the MEAC Hall of Fame.[28]

Jackson was named conference Coach of The Year in 2016, when they also won a share of the conference regular season. She would coach the 2015 MEAC Rookie of The Year Vanessa Washington as well as two-time first-team players Nicole Gazzola and Jasmine Melgoza.[29]

Statistics

Bethune–Cookman Wildcats & Maryland Terrapins

[30]

YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA
2003 66 202 63 99 .490 71 8 11 19 164 .812% 22 15 25 25
2004 69 198 64 89 .449 36 12 9 13 156 .788% 38 19 16 18
2005 68 212 77 96 .453 68 14 8 14 168 .792% 33 20 34 38
2007 58 157 61 64 .407 56 24 1 11 149 .949% 55 19 39 43
TOTALS 261 769 265 348 .452 231 58 29 57 637 .828% 148 73 114 124

NPF Washington Glory & USSSA Pride
YEAR AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB
2007 113 31 42 .371 38 15 1 3 92 .814% 26 26 14
2008 110 19 24 .218 16 5 0 4 43 .391% 24 27 4
2009 111 21 30 .270 16 6 0 2 50 .450% 17 28 5
TOTALS 334 71 96 .287 70 26 1 9 185 .554% 67 81 23

Head Coach Statistics
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Delaware State Hornets (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (2015–2019)
2015 Delaware State 21–2314–41st[31]
2016 Delaware State 30–1816–21st[32]
2017 Delaware State 19–2913–54th[33]
2018 Delaware State 12–369–85th[34]
2019 Delaware State 10–327–86th[35]
Delaware State: 92–138 (.400)59–27 (.686)
Total:92–138 (.400)
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References
  1. "Amber Jackson". Dsuhornets.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  2. Rose, Shannon (2003-05-11). "Ucf Rowing Coach Kamrad Stepping Down After 30 Years – Orlando Sentinel". Articles.orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  3. "Softball Archived Statistics". Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  4. "Bethune–Cookman Wins Fourth Straight MEAC Softball Title". Onnidan.com. 2003-05-11. Retrieved 2014-11-19.
  5. "2005 DI All American Teams". Nfca.org. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  6. "2005 Women's Division I Softball Austin Super Regional Game 2". Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2015-06-16.
  7. "Amber Jackson Bio". Bcuathletics.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-19.
  8. "Amber Jackson Named To All-ACC First Team". Umterps.com. 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2014-11-19.
  9. "2007 DI All American Teams". Nfca.org. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  10. "Amber Jackson Named To Two All-America Teams". Umterps.com. 2007-05-31. Retrieved 2014-11-19.
  11. "2011 Atlantic Coast Conference Softball" (PDF). Grfx.cstv.com. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  12. "Maryland Beats East Carolina, 9-1, To Earn Opening-Day Split". Umterps.com. 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2014-11-19.
  13. "Maryland Take Two From UMBC, 12-3 And 4-1". Umterps.com. 2007-03-13. Retrieved 2014-11-19.
  14. "Terps Record Six Home Runs To Slam Hoyas". Umterps.com. 2007-04-11. Retrieved 2014-11-19.
  15. "Career Batting Records". Umterps.com. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  16. "Division I Softball Records" (PDF). Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  17. "2007 Award Winners & Team NPF.PDF" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  18. "Glory Use Long Ball to Beat China". Profastpitch.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  19. "Washington Out Slugs Racers". Profastpitch.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  20. "Team News". profastpitch.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  21. "News". chicagobandits.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-25. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  22. "Amber Jackson Game Log". Profastpitch.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  23. "Amber Jackson Returns To Maryland". Umterps.com. 2011-08-24. Archived from the original on 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  24. "Terps Take Third Straight NCAA Bid". Umterps.com. 2012-05-13. Archived from the original on 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  25. "In Preparing For Her Storied Softball Career To Reach Its Inevitable End, Amber Jackson Found An Unexpected Calling in College Park". Umterps.com. 2013-05-01. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-11-19.
  26. "Meet The 2012 B-CU Hall of Famer Inductees". Bcuathletics.com. 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2014-11-19.
  27. "Amber Jackson Tabbed As New DSU Softball Coach". Dsuhornets.com. 2014-10-08. Archived from the original on 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2014-11-19.
  28. "2017 MEAC HALL OF FAME CLASS TO BE INDUCTED THURSDAY". Meacsports.com. 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  29. "All-Time MEAC Softball Honors". Meacsports.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  30. "Archived Team-By-Team Final Statistics". Ncaa.org. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  31. "Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Softball Delaware State". Meacsports.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  32. "Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Softball Conference-Only Statistics". Meacsports.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  33. "Conference-Only Statistics". Meacsports.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  34. "MEAC Softball Conference-Only Statistics". Meacsports.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  35. "MEAC Softball Conference-Only Statistics". Meacsports.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
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