Years In Coaching: 16th season
Years at USF: 1st
Alma Mater: Xavier, 2011 – Bachelor's degree in liberal arts
Xavier, 2014 – Master’s degree in sport administration
Hometown: Greenfield, Ohio
Family: Daughter, Alaya
NOTABLE:
• Played for and coached under Chris Mack at Xavier
• Played in four NCAA Tournaments as a Xavier player and won seven tournament games, including appearances in the Elite Eight and two Sweet 16s.
NCAA Tournament Experience as a Coach
2025 NCAA Tournament – Round of 32 (Xavier)
2023 NCAA Tournament – Sweet 16 (Xavier)
2012 NCAA Tournament – Sweet 16 (Ohio)
Dante Jackson joined Chris Mack’s first South Florida staff as an assistant coach in March of 2026.
It marked a reuniting as Jackson previously played for Mack at Xavier and served as a graduate assistant on Mack coaching staffs at Xavier.
Jackson came to South Florida after eight seasons as an assistant coach at Xavier (2018-26). He helped lead Xavier to five postseason appearances, including a win over Texas in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. XU recorded one of the top five winningest seasons in school history in 2023, tying the school record for BIG EAST wins in a season (15-5) and reaching the 2023 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 before finishing with a 27-10 record. He was also part of the staff for Xavier's 2022 NIT Championship run.
Jackson returned to Xavier after stops as an assistant coach at Northern Kentucky (2015-16), Air Force (2016-17), Robert Morris (2017-18) and a brief stint at Kent State.
Jackson served as a graduate assistant under Mack at Xaiver from 2012-14, helping the Musketeers earn a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and reach the 2012 Sweet 16. His final season of 2013-14, marked Xavier’s first season as a member of the BIG EAST Conference and saw the Musketeers go 21-13, including a 10-8 mark and third-place finish in the conference, and earn an at-large berth to the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
Jackson started his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant for one season at Ohio University (2011-12) under head coach John Groce. The Bobcats finished with an overall record of 29-8 that season, won the 2012 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament title and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Greenfield, Ohio, Jackson is a 2011 graduate of Xavier University with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. He earned his master’s degree in sport administration from Xavier in 2014.
Jackson played in four NCAA Tournaments as a Musketeer player and won seven tournament games, including an Elite Eight and two Sweet 16 appearances. He played his first two seasons under Sean Miller, helping XU reach the 2008 Elite Eight and the 2009 NCAA Sweet 16. He played his final two seasons under Chris Mack, helping XU reach another Sweet 16 in 2010 and the NCAA Second Round in 2011.
Jackson concluded his playing career with the Musketeers with 107 victories, just one shy of the school record held by Jason Love. A three-year starter, Jackson started the last 54 games of his career and 88 games overall as he posted career totals of 795 points, 374 rebounds and 255 assists. He shared the school record for games played with 137 until 2018.
Jackson has a daughter, Alaya.
Dante Jackson Coaching Career
2026- South Florida, Assistant Coach
20018-26 Xavier, Assistant Coach
2017-18 Robert Morris, Assistant Coach
2016-17 Air Force, Assistant Coach
2015-16 Northern Kentucky, Assistant Coach
2012-14 Xavier, Graduate Assistant
2011-12 Ohio University, Graduate Assistant
