Xavier's Jackson wins coach of year honor

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Xavier University of Louisiana's Dannton Jackson has been named Louisiana Small College Coach of the Year for 2014.

The Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches announced the recognition Thursday.

It's the first time Jackson has received the award, which is chosen annually by the state's men's college basketball coaches. He is the second Xavier coach to win the award and the first since Dale Valdery in 2001.

NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports (http://bit.ly/1mbjtL2) Jackson will receive the award May 3 during the LABC's 40th annual awards banquet in Baton Rouge.

Jackson became the Gold Rush all-time leader in coaching victories when Xavier won 71-66 at Spring Hill on Dec. 17. The Gold Rush went 23-9 in 2013-14, winning a third consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship. The team also qualified for the NAIA Division I National Championship for the fourth straight year.

Jackson's 11-year record with the Gold Rush is 249-107. His nine 20-win seasons trail only hall-of-famers Fred Hobdy of Grambling State and LSU's Dale Brown in Louisiana men's collegiate history.

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Information from: The Times-Picayune, http://www.nola.com