New Miami football DB coach Chevis Jackson brings championship experience

The Miami football program officially added national championship experience to its coaching staff on Wednesday with the announcement that Chevis Jackson is the Hurricanes' new defensive backs coach. Jackson played on LSU's 2007 National Championship team, was a three-year starter for the Tigers and 2007 first-team All-SEC.

Jackson had 137 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and eight interceptions for LSU from 2005 through 2007. As a senior in 2007, Jackson had 44 tackles, 3.0 TFLs and five interceptions. After four seasons in the NFL, Jackson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at South Alabama in 2013 and 2014.

Jackson returned to LSU as a graduate assistant in 2015. Ball State hired Jackson for his first on-field coaching job with the defensive backs, where he remained through 2018. Kansas hired Jackson as DB coach for his first on-field position with a Power Five program from 2019 through 2021.

Marshall hired Jackson during the 2022 offseason. Jackson remained at Marshall until leaving for Miami. Miami defensive coordinator Lance Guidry worked with Jackson during the 2022 season at Marshall. In their one season coaching together, Marshall was 22nd nationally in 2022, allowing 201.5 passing yards per game under Guidry and Jackson.

Under Guidry and Jackson in 2022, Marshall was also 12th allowing 6.2 yards per pass attempt, second holding opponents to 51.5 percent on pass attempts and third holding opponents to a 104.67 passer rating. Marshall was also 26th with 13 interceptions in 2022. Those numbers regressed without Guidry.

Jackson should thrive as a recruiter with Miami. In 2017, Jackson was the top recruiter in the Mid-American Conference. Jackson was credited with 11 signees for Ball State in 2017. Jackson should provide Miami with another pipeline to Alabama (he's a mobile native) and Louisiana as an LSU alum.

Jackson is one of two new hires to the 2023 Miami staff. Running backs coach Matt Merritt joined the Miami staff from South Florida. Miami has continuity with their staff in 2024, with everyone else returning. Jackson's experience working with Guidry in 2022 should have a smooth transition to Miami.