Cleveland Jackson Rejoins Coaching Ranks

Cleveland Jackson, formerly with the Dawgs' 1993 and 1994 hoops teams, was recently named assistant men's basketball coach at Belmont Abbey College.

Jackson came to UGA from Butler Community College in Kansas, where he averaged 26 points and 9 rebounds per game and was named Junior College Player of the Year. He was recruited to Georgia by head coach Hugh Durham and assistant coach Mark Slonaker, joining a star-studded signing class that included Carlos Strong, Pertha Robinson, Terrell Bell and Shandon Anderson. Cleveland averaged 9 points and 3 rebounds per game during his UGA playing career and was the leading scorer for Coach Durham's 500th win.

After graduating in 1994, followed by a brief stint playing overseas and a period of time coaching at the high school level, Jackson was again called by Mark Slonaker, who had become the head coach at Mercer University. This time, Slonaker asked Jackson to join his staff as an assistant coach. Jackson accepted and thereafter coached at Mercer for seven years.

I believe that Jackson is taking the assistant coaching position recently vacated by Jonas Hayes, when Hayes left to join the UGA staff.

Cleveland is a sharp guy and I couldn't be happier for him and his family.

Congratulations, Coach Jackson!

Dawgs Win!

I enjoy the historical aspect of following UGA sports. Here's an article from back in 1976. Some readers may remember the players from this team: Walter Daniels, Lucius Foster, Jacky Dorsey, Tony Flanagan (deceased), and others.

UGA Beats UF

What happened to Mercer?

I saw them play one game on t.v., and they really looked good. They had the two early season wins over Auburn and Alabama.

But now they're stinking up the place. I checked to see if James Florence and Daniel Emerson were healthy and still in the line-up for them. Yep. Can't blame the losing streak on injuries, as best I can tell.

Think they have lost 6 straight. Jacksonville beat them by about 30 the other day.

It's not that they shouldn't lose at all, or even lose big on occasion. It's just that I was expecting them to continue to play well this year after starting the season out at 6 and 2. I think they're now 7 and 8.

Well, at least they can't blame the losses on former coach and UGA grad, Mark Slonaker.