Ruston High School will be holding a public meet-and-greet tonight in the auditorium for the public to meet Lady Bearcat head coach LaShanda Cooper and Bearcat head coach Marcus Jackson at 5:30 p.m.
“This is a chance for a fans, parents, and even some players to meet our new coaches in Coach Jackson and Coach Cooper,” Ruston High School principal Dan Gressett said. “The public is welcome to attend. We are very excited to have them at Ruston High, and we are looking forward to big things.”
Both coaches have championship pedigree with Jackson winning three total (two with Arcadia and one at Athens) while Cooper won two titles at Northwood-Lena.
Cooper has been the head coach for the Northwood-Lena High School Lady Gators in Lena, La., since the 2020-21 season, where she led her team to the last three Division IV, Select state championship games, winning two of three.
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. His 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.
