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SPC Welcomes Former WNBA Player Gwendolyn Michelle Jackson

Lawrenceville, VA: September 9, 2008– Saint Paul’s College welcomes former Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Player Miss Gwendolyn Michelle Jackson as the new Assistant Coach for the Women’s Basketball team. Jackson is the first woman’s basketball coach to bring four years of professional basketball experience to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

A native of Eufaula, Alabama, Ms Jackson is the sixth pick in the first round of the 2003 WNBA Draft. As a forward, Jackson dominated her first season with the San Antonio Superstars where she led the team in rebounds. She started 26 out of 34 games and averaged 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in 29.5 minutes per game. At the conclusion of her rookie year, she ranked second among rookies in rebounds (6.2 rpg) and was third among rookies in scoring (8.8 ppg).

Jackson played one more season with the Superstars before she was traded to the Phoenix Mercury. While at the Mercury Ms. Jackson tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). She was later traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in April 2007 where she retired after tearing her ACL a second time.

Before being drafted, Jackson played forward for the Lady Vols of the University of Tennessee. Similar to her first season in the WNBA, Jackson started her freshman year in college basketball strong. She was named to the All-SEC Freshman team. As a senior, Jackson started all 38 games, averaged 16.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game. Ms Jackson was named to The 1500 Point Club, Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention, SEC Player of the Week, Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Student Athlete of the Year, Verizon First-Team Academic All-American and Kodak All-American District Team during her career at Tennessee.

Though most individuals are familiar with Jackson’s college and professional basketball credentials, Jackson has been a standout athlete since the eighth grade. She was a member of the 1997 AAU Youth Championship Basketball Team. Ms Jackson was named to the All-American team by The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and USA TODAY during her senior year of high school.

A professional skill set and a willingness to work hard is what Jackson brings to the SPC Lady Tigers. Jackson remarked that she was motivated to be a great athlete by great teachers and that she hopes to do the same for the Lady Tigers. "I just want to help students seize the moment and take full advantage of the opportunity presented in front of them. There is always someone else there willing to fill the shoes another person is not willing to try-on," stated Jackson when asked about her coaching plans for the Lady Tigers.

"Having Gwen join our coaching staff is a big deal", stated Head Coach Serena King-Coleman. "She is a definite asset to the team because she is a great person. Next she brings credibility as a successful player, experience and knowledge to be imparted with our team that can propel us to the next level of play in the Conference."