From criminal justice major to college basketball coach
Myles Jackson ’18 earns his stripes as TU women’s basketball assistant coach
By Kyle Hobstetter on December 12, 2021
As he was getting ready to graduate from Towson University in 2018, Myles Jackson didn’t know what his future would hold. He never expected that two years later he would be an assistant coach for the Towson Tigers’ women’s basketball team.
Jackson, who graduated with a degree in criminal justice, has a pretty good history with Tiger basketball. As a student, he spent three years as a scout player, where he helped the women’s team prepare for upcoming opponents.
Before his senior year, he saw the team was traveling to Las Vegas for a tournament. The only way he could go with them was as a student manager.
That was the role that Jackson likes to joke sold him on the college basketball coaching lifestyle.
“I told them whatever they needed me to do, I would be there and be there on time,” Jackson laughs. “I was down. I went from trying to go on a trip to a Vegas tournament for Christmas to falling back in love with the game of basketball.”
As a manager, Jackson assisted with the scouting and film breakdown for game preparations as well as helping the director of basketball operations with day-to-day management of team activities.
Jackson’s work as a manager caught the eye of head coach Diane Richardson. After he graduated, Richardson promoted him to assistant director of basketball operations and then to director of basketball operations. Jackson crafted travel plans and schedules for players and coaches.
“His continued elevation is a testament of how hard he has worked,” says Richardson of Jackson, whom she describes like a son. “It started with him being a manager on the floor. And I watched him do things like a coach would do. And he’s just moved up.
“He’s been fast paced with everything he’s done, and I know that as a coach, he’s going to excel.”
Before offering the assistant coach position, Richardson wanted to express her belief in Jackson’s future in basketball in a unique way.
“It was a regular Christmas card but towards the end, she said she was going to give me the tools to be an assistant coach and then a head coach one day,” Jackson says. “She’s amazing, and that’s the reason we call her the queen of the DMV [District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia].
“She’s been loyal to me. She took a chance on a senior coming out of college who didn’t know what he was going to do. I’m forever grateful to her.”
But Richardson didn’t hand Jackson the job; she likes to reiterate that he’s earned it. His final test came over the summer when Richardson took Jackson on a recruiting trip where he learned more about one of the key aspects of college basketball.
After watching him and his rapport with student-athletes, Richardson was ready to offer him the job and even celebrate a little.
“I told him dinner was on him,” Richardson laughs. “He's been like a sponge, doing more than we even expected. And this promotion for him was well deserved. Some people would think it would take a longer time, but he excelled at everything. Every job I could throw at him, he’s excelled at.”
And it’s been a pretty impressive first year. The Tigers started the season 9-1, including a win over the University of Florida. Next, TU will host Memphis on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at SECU Arena with tip-off scheduled for 4 p.m.
With the Tigers picking up wins, Jackson couldn’t be more excited. Not just as a coach but as a member of the Towson University family.
“If I could do it all over again, I would pick Towson University 10 out of 10 times,” Jackson says. “I wouldn’t be on my career path if it wasn’t for TU. I don’t see myself anywhere else, and I’m excited to help build the women’s basketball program and put up multiple banners in SECU Arena.”