Joy Jackson joined the Gauchos as an assistant coach in September of 2022.
"I'm thrilled to have Joy Jackson back on my coaching staff and on the field," said head coach Jo Evans. "She is a loyal, trusted assistant who has been an integral part of our success through the years. Joy will be involved in running the defense and coaching first base. This rounds out our coaching staff and I couldn't be more excited to grow UCSB Softball with these three talented women."
After serving alongside Evans at Utah as a student assistant coach (1990-91) and a full-time assistant coach in 1996, she made the move with Evans to Texas A&M where she served on the staff for the past 26 seasons. Jackson was promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach in 2004, a role she continued in until spending the last three years as the Aggies' director of operations and camps director.
During her time at Texas A&M, Jackson coached 17 Aggie outfielders to All-Big 12 selections – including the entire Aggies' outfield in 2004 and 2005 – and five outfielders to the All-SEC Team.
While she was completing her degree in health science as a student at Utah, Jackson was also an assistant coach for Murray High School, which she helped reach the Utah High School State Tournament in her first season in 1991. After becoming the high school's head coach in 1992, she brought the team back to the state tournament while at the same time helping guide Utah to an NCAA Regional Tournament appearance as a volunteer assistant coach.
From 1993-95, she was an assistant coach under Melinda Fischer at Illinois State, helping lead the program to a Missouri Valley Conference title and its first NCAA Tournament trip in seven years in her last year with the team.
Jackson was a four-year letterwinner at Utah from 1986-89, where she played third base and outfield. During her sophomore season, she was instrumental in leading the Utes to the NCAA Tournament after claiming the 1987 High Country Athletic Conference title. As a senior, she was named to the All-Region First Team as the Utes' captain.
The youngest of four children and the only girl, Jackson was raised in Plain City, Utah.
