Fresno State Athletics
Netherby-Sewell Names Assistant Coaches
4/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
April 11, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - Newly appointed head coach of the Fresno State volleyball team, Lauren Netherby-Sewell announced the addition of Ed and Alanna Jackson to the coaching staff on Friday, April 11. The husband and wife duo currently reside in Nevada where Alanna Jackson is an assistant coach at the University of Nevada and Ed Jackson is a physical education teacher and head volleyball coach at Sage Ridge School. The two have coached together for over seven years.
"By some miracle I've hired a volleyball assistant power team," said Netherby-Sewell. "Many have showed envy that I've brought two of the most passionate, bright, accomplished and experienced assistants to Fresno State. Ed, Alanna and I have shared great experiences as teammates and coaching competitors in the Colonial Athletic Association. They bring a wealth of uncommon experience in winning on a national scale and building a program within a competitive conference. We share similar philosophies in training, discipline and care for the overall development of female student-athletes. I now have two assistants who have the bones of a successful head coach. I'm a lucky Bulldog!"
The Jackson's and Netherby-Sewell go back about 10 years as Alanna Jackson and Netherby-Sewell played two years together at the University of Nevada in 1997-98. Alanna Jackson ranks fifth in Wolf Pack history with 2,383 assists and her 1,422 assists as a senior in 1998 is the second best year in school history. She earned All-Big West Conference second-team and Academic All-Conference honors as Nevada made its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
"Lauren has such a charismatic personality and I think she is the right answer for Fresno State for where they are at in re-building the program," said Alanna Jackson. "We played together and worked well together then and we know we still can do some great things."
Alanna Jackson received her Bachelor of Arts degree in theater from Nevada in 2000. She then became a volunteer assistant coach at UC Santa Barbara where she helped guide the team to the 2002 Big West Conference title and an appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16.
"I grew up in California and Fresno State had always been a program I was familiar with as we always played them at UCSB," said Alanna Jackson. "Fresno State has the ability to be a really competitive program, not only in the state of California but on the national scale."
Alanna and Ed Jackson married in 2002 while both working at UCSB. Ed Jackson was an assistant volleyball coach for the Gouchos from 2002-2003, before he and Alanna Jackson moved to Virginia to coach at The College of William and Mary. Alanna Jackson was an assistant coach for four years while Ed Jackson was the associate head coach for three.
"Lauren and I have been rivals in coaching when we were at William and Mary and she was at Hofstra," said Ed Jackson. "We have never had the pleasure of coaching with each other but it's almost a dream to have an opportunity to work with my wife and Lauren who I really respect, to be in California near our families and do what I love. All of the pieces are falling in place. For us to be able to do what we really love doing and be close to family is a treat."
Ed Jackson received his Bachelors of Science in Psychology at Sacramento State before becoming a graduate assistant coach at Eastern Illinois for a year. Ed Jackson also has previous experience as a head coach on the men's side, as he was at UC Davis for one season.
"I love coaching at the college level. The main reason why I left college was the opportunity for my wife to work at her alma mater, Nevada. I fell back into teaching which is what I did before college coaching."
The two have coached at numerous volleyball camps at the University of Nevada, University of Delaware, University of Virginia and University of Maryland along with head coaching experience at the high school level and several club teams.
"The most exciting thing for me is coaching with my husband," said Alanna Jackson. "We have coached together for six or seven years in D-I and at other levels as well. He has such a mind for the game. We are in sync as far as our philosophies and styles of coaching and it was that way even before we were married which just makes us a perfect combination."
"What I like most about Fresno State is that it has a strong history of quality volleyball and I was really excited about the opportunity to work for the University," said Ed Jackson. "It is a great community and the City of Fresno is very supportive of the program and that's something I'm looking forward too."
"I'm really looking forward to meeting the team and getting to know their personalities and where they want to go," said Alanna Jackson. "I'm looking forward to being a part of the Fresno State family."
"Join the State Fresno State!"- For more information on Fresno State volleyball log on to www.gobulldogs.com.
