Mizzou introduces Kerrick Jackson as new baseball coach
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Mizzou baseball team officially has a new head coach. Mizzou Athletics introduced Kerrick Jackson in a press conference on Monday morning at Taylor Stadium.
You can watch the full introductory press conference below.
"It’s not very often you can say goal accomplished," an emotional Jackson said, as he stepped up the the lectern. "This is a special place to me and to be blessed with this opportunity to lead this program, you don't know how much it means."
Athletics Director Desiree Reed-Francois introduced Jackson as the candidate she felt most confident would bring MU back to national prominence. In the days since firing former head coach Steve Bieser, fans had a lot to say about the University's investment in the baseball team and the facilities surrounding it. Reed-Francois said the department made investments last year and will continue to invest.
"We're going to look at it very methodically," she said. "We're going to look at it from a short-term and facilities wise. You know, do we need to put turf around the entire outfield? Our scoreboard and our sound system, there's some opportunities there."
You can watch the full interview with Reed-Francois in the video player below.
Jackson grew up in St. Louis and also worked as an assistant coach for the Tigers from 2011-15. He moved on to be head coach at both Southern University and Memphis later in his career, but returning to Columbia was always his goal.
Jackson hit home just how important involving Mizzou alumni will be moving forward. He said the tradition of Tiger baseball is important in setting a culture for his program.
Mizzou involved one notable alum in the search for Jackson: Tiger baseball's own Ian Kinsler. The former MLB player said Jackson is the man for the job.
"At the end of the day, with the roots that the had here and obviously he passion that you see, this being his dream job and the power that he has with the presence that he has and the messaging, it just all made sense," he said."
You can watch the full interview with Kinsler in the video player below.
