CLINTON, Iowa - Ashford University and the men's basketball program announced the official hiring of Justin Jackson of Madison, Wis., as the new assistant coach effective immediately. Jackson, an Ashford graduate in December, replaces Josh Davis, who accepted a position to be the boys' basketball coach and teach at Camanche High School. Davis will retain the title of women's golf head coach at Ashford.

Jackson will work alongside Saints' Head Coach Andy Eberhart, who enters his 14th year with the Saints this fall.

"I knew I always would love to stay around the Ashford basketball program," said Jackson, who served as a student assistant last season. "I'm real excited to get this opportunity and work with Coach Eberhart."

Jackson acquired his coaching certification from Iowa Lakes Community College on the Estherville campus after a successful two-year playing career. With the Lakers, Jackson averaged almost seven points per game to go along with four rebounds and two assists, before transferring to Ashford.

He wrapped up his playing career under Eberhart from 2006-2008, starting 50 games and earning Honorable Mention All-Midwest Collegiate Conference Honors as a senior. He averaged 9.1 points per game while pulling down over six rebounds (seventh in MCC) in his final year.

A graduate of Madison East High School, Jackson is looking forward to hitting the recruiting trail in his home state where Ashford has unearthed Milwaukee natives, Rashad Carrington and Derrick Harris, in recent years. He played two years at Ashford with soon-to-be seniors and All-MCC selections, Byron Emerson and Daniel Joiner.

"The transition has been real smooth and it really helps to already know all of our players and recruits," said Jackson, who has experience coaching an AAU team in Madison. "I'm looking forward to applying what I've learned and expand our recruiting territories to get Ashford to the next level."

Davis guided the AU women's golf team to a third-place MCC finish in his first year, while overseeing sophomore Jordan Davis' advancement to the NAIA National Championships in Rapid City, S.D., where she tied for 36th.

"It was a tough decision to make because I put a lot of time in trying to get the basketball team in the right direction," Davis said. "I'm excited to build my own program there [at Camanche High School] and that will definitely allow me to spend more time with my family."