Charlie Jackson

Biography

Charlie Jackson enters his fifth year at Air Force as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach. Jackson’s tenure has been an overwhelming success, as the 2022 Air Force defense ranked number one nationally in total defense, number one nationally in least first downs allowed, second nationally in passing defense, third in scoring defense, third in 3rd down conversion defense, and number five in rushing defense. Air Force’s dominant defense continued in 2023 as Jackson helped the unit rank NCAA Top 10 while coaching Trey Taylor to first-team All-American honors and the 2023 Jim Thorpe Award for best defensive back in college football. Air Force has ranked first in the Mountain West in total defense every season since Jackson joined the staff. Jackson is the only football coach in the country to have served as a college head football coach, college football assistant coach, NFL assistant coach, NFL scout, and NCAA National office enforcement staff executive. He came to the Academy from Kentucky State, where he served as head coach the prior three seasons. Jackson garnered national recognition for his total rebuild and overhaul of the Kentucky State program. He is the winningest (percentage) head football coach at Kentucky State since 1945, with a minimum 20 games. Jackson arrived at Kentucky State with the football program in the midst of an abysmal downward spiral that culminated in a 0-10 season in 2018. He took over a program on a 12-game losing streak and a record of 1