MONTICELLO – University of Arkansas at Monticello football coach Gwaine Mathews has announced the hiring of Julius Jackson Jr. of Memphis, Tenn. as the wide receivers coach, effective immediately.
 
Jackson replaces Jafar Williams, who resigned in July to take a position at Howard University in Maryland.
 
For the last two seasons, Jackson has coached at Wooddale High School in Memphis, beginning with his position of offensive coordinator in the summer of 2007, followed by his promotion to head coach in 2008.
 
Prior to his time at Wooddale, Jackson served two seasons as a graduate assistant wide receivers coach at Arkansas State University from 2005-07. He also played three seasons as a defensive back at ASU from 2001-03. In his senior season, he was selected to the Sun Belt Conference All-Academic Team.
 
“We are excited to bring Julius onto our staff and he is very excited to be here,” said Mathews. “He comes highly recommended and considering the time frame in which we had to find a coach, I think we over achieved in hiring Julius. He has the experience necessary to coach at this level and he is also going to play a big role to help us sign more high-quality players out of the Memphis area.”
 
In his high school career, Jackson played quarterback at Hamilton High School in Memphis from 1997-99 and was a Memphis Commercial Appeal “Top 5 Student-Athlete of the Year” in 1999.
 
A 1999 graduate of Hamilton High School, Jackson received two degrees from Arkansas State, a bachelor’s degree in 2005 and a master’s degree in 2007.
 
He has a wife, Lashanna, of Memphis, and a 20-month old son, Julius III, also known as L J.