Blackman girls basketball coach Jessica Jackson resigns to take administrative position

The two most successful area girls basketball teams from the past season are now looking for head coaches.

Blackman is searching for a girls coach after Jessica Jackson accepted an administrative position at Blackman Middle School.

"We are excited for this new opportunity for Jessica, but we will sorely miss her as a faculty member and coach," Blackman principal Leisa Justus said. "We appreciate everything she has done to contribute (to) the school and to the basketball program, and really to all of the sports programs here."

Jackson is the second area girls coach to resign in the past week. Three-time state champion Riverdale coach Randy Coffman resigned last week to take a similar position at a new private school in Morristown.

One of Jackson's former assistants, Kim Woodlee Shibayama, was named girls basketball coach at The Webb School this week.

Blackman reached the Class AAA sectional in 2018. The Lady Blaze won 18 games and were a step away from the state tournament in Jackson's third season.

Jackson spent seven years as an assistant at Blackman and two as head coach at Stewarts Creek before being named the Lady Blaze head coach in 2015.

Blackman went 53-34 during Jackson's tenure, including 27-4 in her first season before the team was upset by eventual state champ Riverdale in the Region 4-AAA semifinals.

Jackson will be an assistant principal at Blackman Middle under new principal Amy Connifey-Marlin, who also came from Blackman High.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.