From Emory University Athletics
Emory University Athletics Director Dr. Michael Vienna has announced Misha Jackson's appointment as head women's basketball coach.
Jackson was named the Eagles' Interim Head Coach in mid-October following the resignation of Christy Thomaskutty, who served in that capacity for 14 years.
Under Jackson's guidance, the 2017-18 edition of Emory women's basketball finished with an overall record of 13-12. Picked to finish seventh in the University Athletic Association Coaches Pre-Season Poll, the Eagles posted a fifth-place effort in the league standings with a 7-7 ledger, with the victory total the program's highest since 2013 and tying the school's third-highest mark over the past 18 campaigns. Emory won a total of seven true road games during the course of the campaign, the best showing in that category since 2012-13 when that squad went 8-2 on enemy courts.
Under her tutelage, Emory had three representatives on the All-University Athletic Association Team. Junior Ashley Oldshue landed her second straight first-team nod while classmate Azzairia Jackson-Sherrod was selected to the second team. Sophomore Erin Lindahl rounded out the trio with an honorable-mention nod.
"Given the timing when she was named interim head coach, Misha did an admirable job with the team and I'm pleased to be able to name her full-time head coach," Dr. Vienna stated. Considering the fact it had to replace three senior starters from the previous season, this year's team showed continual development and improvement, and played with passion and tenacity that can be attributed to Misha's coaching style. I believe that Misha is a rising star in the coaching profession with her best days ahead of her, and we look forward to many successful seasons with her guiding the program."
After a three-year playing career at Emory, Jackson joined the program as an assistant coach under Thomaskutty in 2013-14.
"I am extremely honored to have been named Emory University's head women's basketball coach," Jackson said. "As an alum of the University and of this program, it is a special day on many levels. I would like to thank Dr. Vienna for believing in my vision for our program. The support from the entire athletic department and Campus Life has been phenomenal this season and for that I could not be more appreciative. Emory University is synonymous with excellence and I look forward to leading the women in our program forward in that pursuit both on and off of the basketball court."
Jackson suited up in an Emory uniform from 2010-11 through 2012-13 and played in a total of 78 games, 69 in a starting capacity. By the time she had hung up her uniform, she had placed herself among the school's top-10 all-time performers in 11 categories including second in blocked shots (95) and first in blocked shots average (1.2 bpg). She grabbed a total of 621 rebounds, good for seventh place on Emory's career ladder, and stood 10th in points scored (900) and scoring average (11.5 ppg). As a senior, she was tabbed as an Honorable Mention All-American and chosen to the All-UAA First Team after garnering second-team berths as a sophomore and junior.
A native of Atlanta, Jackson attended St. Pius X High School, graduating in 2009. She began her collegiate career at Florida Southern, where she played during the 2009-10 campaign.
Misha graduated from Emory with a degree in psychology in May of 2013.