By Kyle Roberts
Following the announcement last week of LaShanda Cooper being hired to lead the Lady Bearcat program, Ruston High School added another state champion basketball coach in Arcadia’s Marcus Jackson who will now lead the Bearcats after Ryan Bond’s move to assistant principal for the school.
“We are very excited to have Marcus join us,” Ruston High School principal Dan Gressett said. “He’s a proven winner and comes highly recommended. We have some good things going and honestly feel like we can pursue some coaches that we may not have been able to in the past. We feel like coach Jackson will be a huge addition to Ruston High School, and we can’t wait to get him here on campus.”
Jackson’s most recent state championship came was the 2020-21 LHSAA 1A State Championship when Arcadia defeated White Castle 51-38. The Hornets also won the 2015-16 state championship under Jackson, defeating Southern Lab.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to coach at the 5A level,” Jackson said. “I want to thank the principal and the administration for having faith in me to do the job.”
Last season according to Geauxpreps.com, Arcadia finished with a 14-12 record but swept District 1-1A going 6-0.
Jackson’s coaching career spans two decades, with 12 Top 28 appearances total coaching Arcadia’s boys and Athen’s boys and girls teams. Prior to his time at Arcadia, Jackson also led Athens High, his alma mater, to the 2010-11 state championship.
Jackson will finish out his contract with Arcadia through the remainder of the school year before coming to Ruston to meet his new squad formally.
“I hopefully will be able to get the chance to see them soon,” Jackson said. “I’ll be able to look at film, and it will be good to have Coach Bond around in my back pocket. I’m looking forward to seeing the team, what they can work with and see what I need to add on as coach.
“Today was bittersweet for me. Arcadia has been family to me. I’ve seen a lot of kids come and go and made a lot of relationships here in the 13 years. I’ve been emotional all day and all weekend about this decision, but I think it’s best for me going forward.”
As a player, Jackson was the 1999 LHSAA Class C Player of the Year and the state championship most valuable player for Athens High.
Jackson’s coaching awards include:
- 2015 Class A Boys State “Coach of the Year”
- 2015 All-Area Shreveport Times “Coach of the Year”
- 2010 All-Area Shreveport Times “Coach of the Year”
- 2008 Class C Girls State “Coach of the Year”
- 2005 Class C Boys State “Coach of the Year”
