Kenji Jackson - Defensive Assistant - Football Support Staff

Kenji Jackson

Title:
Defensive Assistant

• Kenji Jackson, a former Big 12 Conference standout at Missouri who boasts a decade of coaching experience, joined University of Houston Football as Defensive Analyst in February 2024. The 2025 season will be his second with the Cougars.

• During 2024, the Cougars limited opponents to 188.8 passing yards per game, ranking third in the Big 12. Houston's 2,266 passing yards allowed were its fewest in a non-COVID season (eight games played) in 30 years (2,160 yards in 1994). UH held opponents under 225 passing yards nine times (15th nationally) and intercepted passes in eight of 12 games including three picks against Baylor (Nov. 23) which ranked tied for the fifth most nationally by a Power Four program on the season.

• Jackson joined Houston from Northern Arizona where he spent two seasons including the 2023 season as the Lumberjacks’ Pass Game Coordinator and Safeties Coach. He arrived in Flagstaff, Ariz., in March 2022 and served as Safeties and Nickelbacks Coach his first season.

• Jackson’s safeties unit helped the Lumberjacks rank 29^th in the FCS in interceptions (11) in 2023. Northern Arizona defenders produced a 91.6 coverage grade according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), ranking first in the Big Sky and 10^th in the FCS.

• Prior to Northern Arizona, Jackson spent two seasons (2021-22) as Defensive Analyst at Arkansas, helping the Razorbacks to back-to-back bowl victories including a 9-win, 2021 season which included victories against #7 Texas A&M, #15 Texas and LSU as well as a New Year’s Day Outback Bowl win over Penn State. That season, the Razorbacks ranked 13^th nationally in red zone defense (.730) and 16^th in third down conversion percentage defense (.335).

• From December 2014 to January 2020, Jackson coached safeties for the Missouri State Bears while also assisting with special teams. A native of Mansfield, Texas, and a graduate of Mansfield High School, Jackson recruited the Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston areas for Missouri State.

• Jackson began his coaching career at his alma mater in August 2012, serving as a recruiting graduate assistant for the Missouri Tigers for 10 months before shifting to a defensive quality control assistant for a year under the head coach he played for, Gary Pinkel. Playing in 51 games for the Tigers from 2008 to 2011, Jackson finished with 183 tackles and seven interceptions at Missouri.

• A standout defensive back, Jackson started at safety for two seasons and was named a team captain during his senior year. Earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in his final season, Jackson was also named the program's Inspirational Player of the Year in 2011. During his playing career, Jackson played in four bowl games with the Tigers reaching the Big 12 championship game in 2008.

• After departing Missouri in 2014, Jackson spent a season as a defensive graduate assistant coach for Northwestern where he worked with the team's defensive backs.

• Jackson spent time in rookie minicamp with both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Arizona Cardinals before shifting his focus to coaching in 2012. During his coaching career, Jackson earned a Master of Education from Missouri and a Master of Sports Administration from Northwestern.