Lake Land College Hires New Baseball Coach

Lake Land College recently hired Bill Jackson as head baseball coach for the college as well as the Trio Student Support Services Learning Skills Specialist. Jackson is coming from Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa after spending time coaching as an associate head coach and infield and hitting coach.

“I’ve had high expectations about coming to Lake Land, and so far, the support from the community campus has been great, which is important to me as a coach,” said Jackson.

Jackson said he wants the program to be successful right away and is already busy putting together a roster and fall and spring game schedules.

“The players will learn what work is,” said Jackson. “Good things come to those who work hard and I want to get the best out of the combination of offense, defense and pitching. I’m looking to really create some offensive pressure.”

In addition to his baseball coaching responsibilities, Jackson will serve at the Trio Student Support Services Learning Skills Specialist. Jackson said that Trio is an important program and he’s seen the impact it’s had on some of his former players directly. While at Graceland University, Jackson worked with the CHARGE program, an off-shoot of the university’s Trio Student Support Services program.

Trio Student Support Services provides additional support to students in need including academic and financial workshops and counseling, cultural experiences, college visits, tutoring, learning skills consulting and development and scholarship opportunities.

“Overall I want to see students move on and succeed in both the baseball program and Trio and I’ll work hard to help them do just that,” said Jackson.

Jackson was with Graceland University since 2007. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, he coached in Junction City, Kan. for a collegiate summer team, the Generals of the Central Plains League, where he worked with the positional players. In the fall of 2006, he became an assistant at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Jackson has also worked over the past several summers assisting at the DeMarini Top 96 College Baseball Prospects Camp.

Jackson's' playing career began at Sauk Valley Community College in 1996. While at SVCC, Jackson was a middle infielder. In 1998, he transferred to Eureka College in Eureka, Ill. While at EC, Jackson was named an All-Conference, Tournament Team Second Baseman and an All-Region Selection. Jackson went on to play two years of semi-professional ball for the River City Mudcats.

Jackson is a 2003 graduate of Aurora University with a master’s degree in business and a 2000 graduate of Eureka College with a bachelor’s degree in business.

Jackson has been married for five years to his wife Nicole and they have a one-year-old son, Dylan.