Courtesy of Bethune-Cookman Athletics
DENMARK, S.C. — Garon Jackson, the Director of Track & Field at Daytona Beach, FL HBCU Bethune-Cookman, has been announced to the 2024 class of the Voorhees University Athletics Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place during Homecoming weekend in September. Voorhees University is a private career-oriented HBCU in Denmark, South Carolina.
Jackson, a 1999 HBCU graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, left an indelible mark on the institution’s track and field program during his tenure as a student-athlete. His exceptional performances and leadership on the track paved the way for a stellar coaching career that has spanned nearly two decades.
“This is a great honor,” said Jackson, who returned to Bethune-Cookman as the Director of Track & Field during the 2023-24 season. “God has truly blessed me and my family and continues to shine light and grace upon my family. I definitely appreciate the coaches that coached me over the years; the athletes that I’ve sowed into over the years and my college teammates that created a winning culture at Voorhees University, and those that are doing great things after graduating.”
During his time at Voorhees, Jackson competed as a middle/long distance runner for the Tigers. He still holds the Voorhees and Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIAC) records in the 800, 1500, 5000, and 10000 meters in addition to cross country records. Jackson was the EIAC Most Valuable Runner for four years in cross country and three years in Track and Field, finishing undefeated at the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIAC) Championships throughout his entire collegiate career.
Jackson also served as head coach at his alma mater for track & field, where he spent five years at the helm of the Tigers program. During his stint at Voorhees, Jackson produced several National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Qualifiers as well as All-Americans and an NAIA National Champion.
“I want to thank Voorhees University for taking a chance on a young man from Sumter, South Carolina, and creating a foundation in me — one that everything I am as a person is built upon,” said Jackson.
In 2020, he took the helm as track & field head coach at Claflin in his home state of South Carolina. In just three seasons, Jackson guided the Panthers to their first-ever Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s Indoor Track & Field Championship in 2023. That led to Jackson being tabbed CIAA Men’s Indoor Coach of the Year.
Jackson was named to the Sumter Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, September 7, 2024. Jackson will be one of five inductees in this year’s class, joining a distinguished group of alumni who have made significant contributions to athletics at Voorhees and beyond.
For more information about the 2024 Voorhees Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony, please visit VoorheesAthletics.com.