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Arkansas State head football coach Gus Malzahn announced Monday that Dean Jackson, a veteran coach with over 30 years experience at the high school and collegiate levels, has been named an assistant coach for the Red Wolves. Jackson comes to ASU after spending the last three seasons as the assistant head football coach and defensive line coach Naaman Forest High School in Garland, Texas.

He spent the previous three seasons at the University of Tulsa, including the 2009 campaign as an administrative assistant to the head coach and the director of high school relations.  He spent his first two seasons as Tulsa’s tight ends coach when the Golden Hurricane played in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala. in both 2007 and 2008 while Malzahn was serving as offensive coordinator.

In 2008, Jackson was part of an offensive coaching staff that had Tulsa ranked as the nation's top offense for the second consecutive year, gaining 569.9 yards and scoring 47.2 points per game. In 2008, the Hurricane led the nation in total offense with 543.9 yards per game, while Tulsa posted an overall 10-4 record.

Jackson went to Tulsa after coaching the tight ends for one season at Rice in 2006, when the Owls played in the New Orleans Bowl. Jackson helped lead the Owls to a 7-6 record and the school's first bowl game appearance in 45 years. Before his stint at Rice, Jackson spent 25 years in the high school ranks in north Texas.

Jackson was the defensive coordinator at Dallas' Hillcrest High School in the 2004-05 seasons, helping the Panthers compile an 8-3 record and a Class 4A area finalist spot in 2004.

Previously, Jackson spent six years on the coaching staff at Allen High School. He helped the Eagles advance to the playoffs five times, including the 2003 campaign when they finished as a Class 5A state semi-finalist.

Jackson was the head coach and athletic director at Wilmer-Hutchins High School for three seasons (1995-97). He was also on the Wilmer-Hutchins coaching staff as offensive coordinator when it won the 1990 Class 4A state championship. Jackson coached in the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game in 1992. While at Wilmer-Hutchins, Jackson also coached Eagle athletes to seven national championships in power-lifting along with the 1989 state title and five regional crowns.

Jackson had previous assistant coaching assignments at Athens High School (1985-87), Paris High School (1981-84) and Pittsburg High School (1994), all in Texas. A native of Atlanta, Texas, Jackson earned his bachelor’s degree in education/physical education, from Wichita State University in 1981. He and his wife, Cora, have three children: son, Cory, and daughters, Dena and Nikki.