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Marshall coach Corny Jackson watches the court during a Sun Belt Conference men's basketball game against Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
Marshall coach Corny Jackson watches the court during a Sun Belt Conference men's basketball game against Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON — Marshall University men's basketball coach Corny Jackson has signed a contract extension through 2030, it was announced Wednesday.
A motion regarding express consent of the contract was approved on Wednesday morning during the monthly Marshall Board of Governors Athletics Committee meeting at the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall, and the extension was finalized hours later.
“I’m incredibly grateful to [Marshall] President Brad Smith, [athletic director] Christian Spears and the Board of Governors for their belief in me and our program,†Jackson said in a news release. “Marshall University is such a special place. I’m honored to continue representing this program, our student-athletes and our community.Â
“This extension isn’t just a commitment to me; it’s a commitment to the vision we share for Marshall basketball. I couldn’t be more excited for where we’re headed.â€
Following the meeting, Spears called Jackson’s work ethic unlike any other and cited his immediate results as a 20-win coach in his first season that far exceeded expectations given by preseason Sun Belt Conference projections.
“When you have one of the best young coaches -- we have a first-year coach that won 20 games,†Spears said. “We could’ve won that thing. We were in every game. He had them playing harder than every team. All of those kids bought in to [defending]. That isn’t going to stop.
“I’ve never seen another coach with that kind of work ethic. I’m thrilled that my name is on his contract with Brad's. That dude is going to win here.â€
Spears also spoke highly of the players that Jackson has brought into the program. During the meeting’s presentation, Spears mentioned that every team at Marshall achieved a 3.0 GPA or better for both semesters and that 25% of athletes were named to the fall President’s List -- achieving a 4.0 GPA.
Four of Marshall’s 2024-25 men’s basketball players were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team with a 3.5 GPA or higher while playing in 90% of games or starting in 66% or more.
“How many GPAs in men’s basketball do you see that are that high?†Spears asked rhetorically. “They work hard, and they care about what we’re doing. That’s who Corny goes out and gets.â€
Jackson and the 2025-26 Thundering Herd just had its first team meeting. Marshall has brought in multiple transfers while also retaining stars such as Jalen Speer, who entered the NCAA transfer portal before removing his name.
In Jackson's first season at the helm, Marshall's Obinna Anochili-Killen was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a second-team all-league selection. Anochili-Killen became the fourth player in Herd history to record 100 blocks in a season.
As an assistant coach, Jackson also helped mentor the two all-time leading Herd scorers -- Jon Elmore and Taevion Kinsey.
Jackson was a finalist for multiple national coaching awards, including the Joe B. Hall Award, given to the top first-time coach in Division I men’s basketball, and the Ben Jobe Award, given to the top minority coach in Division I.
“No doubt that we’re going to be successful,†Spears said.
Tyler Kennett is a sports writer for HD Media. Reach him at tkennett@hdmediallc.com. Follow @tylerkennett on X.
