Jeff Jackson was named the 10th Commissioner of the Missouri Valley Conference in March 2021 and officially began his role with the league office on July 1, 2021. In August 2023, the Missouri Valley Conference Board of Directors rewarded Jackson with a five-year contract that extends through June 30, 2028.
Jackson has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Council (high-level group responsible for the day-to-day decision-making for Division I). And he also currently serves on the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Oversight Committee, a group charged with ensuring that appropriate oversight of men’s basketball is maintained, enhancing the development and public perception of the sport and making recommendations related to regular-season and postseason men’s basketball. Both terms are through June 2028. In the fall of 2024, Jackson was appointed Vice Chair of the Men's Basketball Oversight Committee.
His impact on the Conference has been substantial. In his first year, the MVC added three members -- Belmont, UIC, and Murray State -- expanding the Conference to 12 members for the first time in the MVC's 117-year history. At no other time had the MVC added more than two institutions in a calendar year. His experience as both an administrator and long-time basketball coach has equipped Jackson with a unique perspective as the league navigates through a tumultuous time in college athletics.
In addition to Conference expansion, Jackson spearheaded the inception of Conference guidance on NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), expanded the league's linear television package, enhanced student-athlete experience at MVC championships with new initiatives, introduced student-athlete involvement in the league meeting structure, revamped the Conference constitution, and with his guidance, the MVC also established a Sports Medicine Committee within his first 20 months leading the MVC.
Jackson had worked in two Division I conference offices in the seven years prior and brings extensive basketball experience from a three-decade collegiate coaching career prior to his entry into athletics administration in 2014. Jackson has also served as a member of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee and NCAA Basketball Oversight Committee.
Prior to assuming his role at the MVC, Jackson was the Executive Associate Commissioner of the Big 12 Conference. In his three years at the Big 12 Conference, he had oversight of men’s basketball and game management, working directly with the Conference’s coaches, administrators, and officiating program: along with coordination of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship.
Prior to the Big 12, Jackson spent four years as Big South Conference Deputy Commissioner. He oversaw the external operations, championships, and sports administration for the Conference -- with a primary focus on men’s and women’s basketball. In addition, Jackson was responsible for operationalizing the Big South’s strategic plan, serve as the liaison for the league’s branding efforts and assist with television and broadcast matters.
Before joining the Big South, Jackson had a 30-year coaching career, which included seven years as Furman’s head coach from 2006-13 and three seasons leading New Hampshire from 1996-99. Jackson served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Vanderbilt University for seven seasons from 1999-06. In 2004, the Commodores posted a 23-10 record and advanced to the NCAA “Sweet 16” with wins over Western Michigan and N.C. State before falling to eventual national champion Connecticut. That same year, he was named one of the top 25 college basketball recruiters in the country by Rivals.com after Vanderbilt’s 2005 freshman class garnered national recognition by the service. Jackson made his head coaching debut at New Hampshire after previous stints as an assistant coach at Stanford, Colorado State and St. Bonaventure.
Jackson graduated from Cornell in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial and labor relations. He and his wife Carolyn, also a graduate of Cornell, have three children: Xavier, Jenai and Taylor.