Eastern Michigan Athletics
Staff Directory
Jackson, Kayla
Kayla Jackson
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
The 2024-25 season will mark the first as an Eastern Michigan University assistant coach for Kayla Jackson, who previously played under current EMU Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh at Canisius University.
Entering her first season as an assistant coach, Jackson previously gained experience with stops at St. Bonaventure University and the University of Evansville. She began her post-collegiate days with the Purple Aces as a graduate assistant during the 2022-23 season before taking on the role of Director of Basketball Operations for the Bonnies last year.
As a student-athlete, Jackson spent five seasons as a player at the Division I level, starting her playing career at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) where she appeared in 26 games as a freshman, but missed all her sophomore campaign due to an injury. Jackson went on to finish her playing career at Canisius University, spending two seasons with the Golden Griffins and playing under Nusseibeh. During her time in Buffalo, Jackson started 27-of-31 games, including all five in Canisius’ pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.
As a senior in 2021-22, Jackson started 22-of-26 contests while leading the Griffs and ranking 11th in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in rebounding, pulling down 6.6 boards per game. She grabbed 172 total rebounds, including 10 or more in seven contests. Off the court, Jackson was selected to the 2022 MAAC All-Academic Team.
Jackson served as the women’s basketball team captain as a senior, while also serving as a member of the Canisius Leadership Academy and a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative. She was named the Canisius College “Student-Athlete of the Month” in February 2021 for her dedication and leadership both on and off the court, while maintaining a high academic standing.
Prior to her collegiate career, Jackson was a standout at Aquinas Institute in Rochester, N.Y., helping the team win a sectional title during her career. She was named sectional MVP and team MVP, surpassing the 1,000-point mark as a sophomore.
The Kayla Jackson File
Name: Kayla Jackson
High School: Aquinas Institute - Rochester, N.Y.
College: Canisius University - B.S. in Psychology (2022)
Playing/Coaching Experience
Year – School - Position
2024-Pres. - Eastern Michigan University - Assistant Coach
2023-24 - St. Bonaventure University - Director of Basketball Operations
2022-23 - University of Evansville - Graduate Assistant
2020-22 - Canisius University - Student-Athlete
2018-20 - University of Maryland-Baltimore County - Student-Athlete
Entering her first season as an assistant coach, Jackson previously gained experience with stops at St. Bonaventure University and the University of Evansville. She began her post-collegiate days with the Purple Aces as a graduate assistant during the 2022-23 season before taking on the role of Director of Basketball Operations for the Bonnies last year.
As a student-athlete, Jackson spent five seasons as a player at the Division I level, starting her playing career at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) where she appeared in 26 games as a freshman, but missed all her sophomore campaign due to an injury. Jackson went on to finish her playing career at Canisius University, spending two seasons with the Golden Griffins and playing under Nusseibeh. During her time in Buffalo, Jackson started 27-of-31 games, including all five in Canisius’ pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.
As a senior in 2021-22, Jackson started 22-of-26 contests while leading the Griffs and ranking 11th in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in rebounding, pulling down 6.6 boards per game. She grabbed 172 total rebounds, including 10 or more in seven contests. Off the court, Jackson was selected to the 2022 MAAC All-Academic Team.
Jackson served as the women’s basketball team captain as a senior, while also serving as a member of the Canisius Leadership Academy and a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative. She was named the Canisius College “Student-Athlete of the Month” in February 2021 for her dedication and leadership both on and off the court, while maintaining a high academic standing.
Prior to her collegiate career, Jackson was a standout at Aquinas Institute in Rochester, N.Y., helping the team win a sectional title during her career. She was named sectional MVP and team MVP, surpassing the 1,000-point mark as a sophomore.
The Kayla Jackson File
Name: Kayla Jackson
High School: Aquinas Institute - Rochester, N.Y.
College: Canisius University - B.S. in Psychology (2022)
Playing/Coaching Experience
Year – School - Position
2024-Pres. - Eastern Michigan University - Assistant Coach
2023-24 - St. Bonaventure University - Director of Basketball Operations
2022-23 - University of Evansville - Graduate Assistant
2020-22 - Canisius University - Student-Athlete
2018-20 - University of Maryland-Baltimore County - Student-Athlete
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