Former Dean College Director of Athletics John Jackson will join two other athletic administrators being inducted into the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Hall of Fame later this month.

Jackson, who was named the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year on three separate occasions (2002, 2010, 2014), will be inducted alongside Ron Case, the former AD at Rowan College-Gloucester County and Mary Ellen Leicht, the former CEO of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). 

"John's tireless work on behalf of the student-athletes at Dean and other institutions continues to be noticed long after his retirement," said Dean College President, Dr. Paula M. Rooney. "That is a testament to his exemplary work as an administrator, instructor and coach, and we are thrilled for him to receive such an incredible honor."

The honor for Jackson comes after he spent 37 years in various roles at Dean College – including 27 as the Director of Athletics. His tenure with the Bulldogs began in 1980 when he took over the men's basketball program and guided them to 120 wins in ten seasons – the most in the history of the program.

Jackson also served two separate stints as the head softball coach. His first run (2002-04) produced a pair of 20+ win seasons – including a school-record 23 in 2002 -  as well as two Region XXI Championships (2002, 2003). Five seasons later, Jackson returned for five more seasons (2010-14) culminating in an 18-win season in 2014 that saw Dean finish second in the region.

As an administrator, Jackson was instrumental in the construction of baseball and softball dugouts, the naming of Dale Lippert Field, the synthetic turf installation at Grant Field, and in the process of moving the College's athletic program from NJCAA affiliation towards full National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) membership.

After stepping down as AD on January 1, 2016, Jackson moved into the role of Director of NCAA Compliance, working closely with head coaches and student-athletes on issues of eligibility and retention before retiring in the spring of 2017.

Jackson's work was not contained to just Dean College as he served on numerous regional and national committees. He was the Chair of the Standard and Ethics Committee for the NJCAA, while also serving on the NJCAA Men's Lacrosse Committee.

Additionally, he held the position of women's and men's regional director of the NJCAA and was on the Executive Committee for the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

The College itself has honored Jackson's commitment, renaming the court inside of Pieri Gymnasium after him in 2017 and then establishing the John A. Jackson Sportsmanship Award, given annually to the student-athlete who best demonstrates the qualities of sportsmanship.

The ceremony will take place on June 28 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C.

For the latest information on Dean College Athletics, visit www.deanbulldogs.com.