Kevin Jackson
Encyclopedia
Kevin Andre Jackson is the head wrestling coach at Iowa State University, having been hired in 2009 when Cael Sanderson quit the post and moved to Penn State University. Before joining Iowa State, Jackson was a four-time All-American, first for Louisiana State and then for Iowa State, where he was the NCAA runner-up in 1987.
As a wrestler, he was an Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler
, and a former mixed martial arts
fighter. He won a gold medal in Freestyle wrestling at the 1992 Summer Olympics
. After retiring from competition, in 2001, Jackson became the U.S. national freestyle coach, based at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs.
, won two state high school championships for Eastern High School
before becoming a Junior National Greco-Roman wrestling
champion.
and earned All-America honors three times before the school dropped the sport. He transferred to Iowa State
for his senior year and captained the Cyclones’ last NCAA championship team (1987), earning another All-America award with an NCAA runner-up finish and registering a 30-3-1 record.
titles and was a member of World Championship teams for the United States in both 1993 and 1995. He won three U.S. National Titles and placed second five times. Jackson also became the first American to win the prestigious Takhti Cup (1998) in Tehran
, Iran
.
During his post-collegiate competitive career, Jackson also assisted with the Cyclone Wrestling Club (1989–92) and volunteered with the Arizona State
(1997) program.
Jackson participated in mixed martial arts
, when he joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship
and won the UFC 14
Middleweight tournament. He fought Frank Shamrock
for the Middleweight title at UFC Japan
, but lost by armbar. He retired from MMA competition in 1998 after six fights.
Jackson’s success earned him a number of major awards, including the 1995 John Smith
Award as National Freestyle Wrestler of the Year, 1992 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year and 1991 USA Wrestling and USOC Wrestler of the Year. Jackson is a member of the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame, the United States National Wrestling Hall of Fame (as a distinguished member) and the Iowa State University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Jackson has worked extensively as a wrestling coach. He was head coach of the Sunkist
youth development program, National Freestyle coach for USA Wrestling
for eight years (2001–08) and the freestyle wrestling coach for two United States' teams at the Olympics. Jackson was the freestyle coach at the Olympic Training Center and head coach for the U.S. Army team at Fort Carson (1998–2001).
| align="center" colspan=7|4 Wins (4 submissions), 2 Losses (2 submissions).
|-
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Date
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Outcome
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Opponent
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Event
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Details
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Round, Time
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Notes
|-
|5/15/1998
|Won
|Sam Adkins
|EC 18 - Extreme Challenge 18
|Submission (Armbar)
|Round 1, 4:21
|-
|3/13/1998
|Loss
|Jerry Bohlander
|UFC 16 - Battle in the Bayou
|Technical Submission (Armbar)
|Round 1, 10:23
|-
|12/21/1997
|Loss
|Frank Shamrock
|UFC Japan - Ultimate Japan
|Submission (Armbar)
|Round 1, 0:16
|For UFC Middleweight Championship (up to 200lbs)
|-
|7/27/1997
|Won
|Tony Fryklund
|UFC 14 - Showdown
|Submission (Choke)
|Round 1, 0:44
|Won UFC 14 Middleweight Tournament
|-
|7/27/1997
|Won
|Todd Butler
|UFC 14 - Showdown
|Submission (Strikes)
|Round 1, 1:27
|-
|3/28/1997
|Won
|John Lober
|EF 4 - Extreme Fighting 4
|Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
|Round 2, 1:12
|-
As a wrestler, he was an Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler
Freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...
, and a former mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
fighter. He won a gold medal in Freestyle wrestling at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. After retiring from competition, in 2001, Jackson became the U.S. national freestyle coach, based at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs.
High school
The native of Lansing, Mich.Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, won two state high school championships for Eastern High School
Eastern High School (Michigan)
Eastern High School is a public high school in Lansing, Michigan as part of the Lansing School District.Eastern International Baccalaureate Magnet High School is the only high school in mid-Michigan authorized to offer students the opportunity to earn a prestigious International Baccalaureate...
before becoming a Junior National Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can...
champion.
College
As a college wrestler, he attended LSULouisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
and earned All-America honors three times before the school dropped the sport. He transferred to Iowa State
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
for his senior year and captained the Cyclones’ last NCAA championship team (1987), earning another All-America award with an NCAA runner-up finish and registering a 30-3-1 record.
Career
After college, Jackson won two Pan American GamesPan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
titles and was a member of World Championship teams for the United States in both 1993 and 1995. He won three U.S. National Titles and placed second five times. Jackson also became the first American to win the prestigious Takhti Cup (1998) in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
During his post-collegiate competitive career, Jackson also assisted with the Cyclone Wrestling Club (1989–92) and volunteered with the Arizona State
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
(1997) program.
Jackson participated in mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
, when he joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
and won the UFC 14
UFC 14
-External links:***...
Middleweight tournament. He fought Frank Shamrock
Frank Shamrock
Frank Shamrock is a retired mixed martial arts fighter. Shamrock was the first to hold the UFC Middleweight Championship and retired as the four-time defending undefeated champion...
for the Middleweight title at UFC Japan
UFC Japan
UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 21, 1997, in Yokohama, Japan...
, but lost by armbar. He retired from MMA competition in 1998 after six fights.
Jackson’s success earned him a number of major awards, including the 1995 John Smith
John Smith (wrestler)
John William Smith is a successful college wrestler, 6-time World Champion, 2-time Olympic Games champion, and is currently the head coach of wrestling at Oklahoma State University.-High school career:...
Award as National Freestyle Wrestler of the Year, 1992 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year and 1991 USA Wrestling and USOC Wrestler of the Year. Jackson is a member of the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame, the United States National Wrestling Hall of Fame (as a distinguished member) and the Iowa State University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Jackson has worked extensively as a wrestling coach. He was head coach of the Sunkist
Sunkist Kids
Sunkist Kids are a wrestling club based in Scottsdale, Arizona.-History:Many of American wrestling's greatest champions are from the organization, such as wrestling legend John Smith , women's wrestling pioneer Tricia Saunders , Cael Sanderson and Greco-Roman wrestler Rulon Gardner Sunkist Kids...
youth development program, National Freestyle coach for USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling is the organization that currently governs freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling in the United States...
for eight years (2001–08) and the freestyle wrestling coach for two United States' teams at the Olympics. Jackson was the freestyle coach at the Olympic Training Center and head coach for the U.S. Army team at Fort Carson (1998–2001).
Championships and awards
Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipUltimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
- UFC 14UFC 14-External links:***...
Middleweight tournament winner
Mixed martial arts record
{| class="wikitable"| align="center" colspan=7|4 Wins (4 submissions), 2 Losses (2 submissions).
|-
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Date
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Outcome
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Opponent
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Event
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Details
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Round, Time
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Notes
|-
|5/15/1998
|Won
|Sam Adkins
Sam Adkins
Samuel Adam Adkins is a former professional American football player. He attended Cleveland High School in Reseda, CA and Wichita State University. He played for the NFL Seattle Seahawks from 1977–1983, and is the only member of the Seahawks to wear the number 12...
|EC 18 - Extreme Challenge 18
|Submission (Armbar)
|Round 1, 4:21
|-
|3/13/1998
|Loss
|Jerry Bohlander
Jerry Bohlander
Jerry Bohlander is an American former mixed martial artist. He is most notable for his UFC appearances and was a former UFC champion, winning the first lightweight tournament at UFC 12. He was a member of the legendary fight team the Lion's Den alongside other notable fighters such as Ken...
|UFC 16 - Battle in the Bayou
UFC 16
UFC 16: Battle in the Bayou was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 13, 1998 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
|Technical Submission (Armbar)
|Round 1, 10:23
|-
|12/21/1997
|Loss
|Frank Shamrock
Frank Shamrock
Frank Shamrock is a retired mixed martial arts fighter. Shamrock was the first to hold the UFC Middleweight Championship and retired as the four-time defending undefeated champion...
|UFC Japan - Ultimate Japan
UFC Japan
UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 21, 1997, in Yokohama, Japan...
|Submission (Armbar)
|Round 1, 0:16
|For UFC Middleweight Championship (up to 200lbs)
|-
|7/27/1997
|Won
|Tony Fryklund
|UFC 14 - Showdown
UFC 14
-External links:***...
|Submission (Choke)
|Round 1, 0:44
|Won UFC 14 Middleweight Tournament
|-
|7/27/1997
|Won
|Todd Butler
|UFC 14 - Showdown
UFC 14
-External links:***...
|Submission (Strikes)
|Round 1, 1:27
|-
|3/28/1997
|Won
|John Lober
John Lober
John "The Machine" Lober is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Light Heavyweight division. He lost his last fight at Cage Wars Championship: Nightmare against Lee McKibbin on November 29th, 2009...
|EF 4 - Extreme Fighting 4
|Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
|Round 2, 1:12
|-