By Mike Monahan

Lainey Jackson says she has wanted to be a head coach for a long time.

Before she was an All-American player. And before she started developing players on local travel teams.

Those around her saw that leadership, including one of her former coaches.

So did Lake Land College, which hired her to replace Ashli Wicker to run the Lakers volleyball program.

”I have wanted to be a college coach for a long time,” said 2017 Cumberland graduate Lainey Jackson. “I saw the opportunity come up and I just knew I needed to apply. I know from word of mouth there were other good applicants. I love Mattoon. I have lived here for three years and have no intention of leaving. I have met so many great people here.”

Jackson, who had coached travel volleyball and worked as an exercise specialist at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital, replaces Wicker, who posted a 152-133 record across eight seasons. Wicker left to become Director of Home Events at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri, an NCAA Division II school of 5,500. 

“Lainey really impressed the search committee,” said Lake Land Athletics Director Bill Jackson. “She is very driven and hard working. We are excited to have her be a part of the Lake Land athletic department and college. She is very well connected within the volleyball community and within our area. We are excited to watch her grow our volleyball program.”

The Lakers finished 18-18 last season, 9-7 in the conference, behind first-team All-Region player Madison Watret, who graduated, and returning second-teamers Gabyrela Castro De Jesus and Brianna Hewing. 

Jackson’s playing career

At Cumberland High, Lainey Jackson, the daughter of Matt and Jenny Jackson of Toledo, earned first-team unanimous honors in the Little Okaw Valley Conference her senior and junior years, first team as a sophomore and was honorable mention her freshman year in the Little Illini Conference under coach Sarah Foley. Her last three seasons she was coached by Audra Speakman, including a 17-13 mark her senior year. 

“She was a phenomenal player (setter and passer),” said Speakman. “She has a good knowledge of the game that not all of her peers did. She is a natural leader and has a passion for the sport and drive to push young women to be great at the sport as well. When the job became available I immediately thought and hoped Lainey would apply. She will be an amazing asset to Lake Land.” 

After Cumberland, Jackson played at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield where she earned second-team All-American honors in the NJCAA Division II under coach Jim Dietz. Jackson was a setter for the Loggers, who finished third in the nation Jackson’s freshman year and eighth her sophomore season.  Lincoln Land went 37-7 her freshman year and 29-14 her sophomore year. 

“The difference between playing high school and junior college is, obviously, the speed increases,” said Jackson. “The mindset is the biggest difference. You don’t have time to be emotional. The biggest thing we worked on was always be level headed. Don’t let mistakes get you down. That was a reason for our success to have the mindset above everything else.”

Lincoln Land beat rival Parkland for third place, which was the first time the Loggers beat the Cobras in 10 years. 

After Lincoln Land, Jackson joined a new volleyball program at what is now known as Blue Mountain College (then known as Blue Mountain Christian University), an NAIA school of 450 in Mississippi.   

“It was a challenge, for sure,” said Jackson of being the first year of the program. “Coach Reid Gann came in and had high expectations, and the last two years they have won over 30 matches.”

Coaching experience

Last season, Jackson served as the assistant coach at Teutopolis, while also helping with the travel volleyball team Club 217 during the past four seasons under Lori Bennett and Jay Potter, who will work as Jackson’s assistant coach.

“Lori Bennett pushed me to apply,” said Jackson. “I was a little hesitant at first just because I am young for a college coach at 24. I knew that it would play a factor in some of their decision making, but then Lori told me she was 23 when she was hired at Lake Land. That eased my mind a little about it. It was reassuring confidence that I am capable of coaching at Lake Land, and I know how to get to where the program should be.”

Speakman could tell Jackson had the leadership qualities in high school. 

“She understands and knows the game and was a phenomenal setter, a great hitter and good at passing,” said Speakman. “She knows how to adjust to the team and knows the strength of teams. Her passion is a huge thing and she will bring that to the team. I think the fact she is the new Lake Land coach draws attention to Cumberland, who have had such a successful program and a lot of great players.”

“I give a lot of credit to Lori and Jay, for sure,” said Jackson. “They not just molded me into the player I was, but the coach I am too. I am still learning from them. They have been like a family for me since I was 16. I think my philosophy is bits and pieces from every single coach all the way back to junior high. I take a couple of positive things from each coach, but, obviously, Lori and Jay are the most recent and have had the biggest impact on me.”

Lake Land is 3-2 heading into two Saturday matches at Vincennes.

“I could not be more excited to get going,” said Jackon. “I don’t expect this year to be easy, but I love the challenge. Challenges are what makes us grow. The main goal is getting the hardest workers in the room. That is our mantra, always be the hardest worker in the room.”

Speakman called her fearless.

“I have been following her journey into coaching and each stride she has made with the club and now with this,” he said. “It is a great fit for her. I see her doing well. She is young and to be a collegiate coach at her age is fantastic. She is fearless. I know she will do well and they will take to her. With her knowledge that she brings, that program will really take off.”