Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/790203
GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 27, ISSUE 4 56 Derrick Jackson, CBs Jim Grobe, who hired Jackson at Wake Forest, called Jackson one of the most fundamentally sound coach- es in the country, saying Jackson is focused on teaching the basics first — never assuming players know them — and then developing them as complete players. Players appreciate that approach, especially coming from a former player who knows what it takes to be successful: Jackson started 40 consecutive games as a safety at Duke. "His ability to teach technique is his best trait," former Wake DB Brad Watson said. "I think he's a great teacher of the game. He's able to take people's strengths and turn them into things you can hang your hat on. My length and my ability to press people is my strength, and I feel like I mastered that over my four years. And he goes at your weaknesses, and you get better at your weaknesses. I just think he's a great teacher of the game. He knows the game inside and out. I'll call him today and ask him questions about the game. I definitely trust him." Anthony Poindexter, Secondary As a hard-hitting, playmaking safety and of the best players in Virginia's history — as well as some- one with NFL experience — Poindexter immediately has credibility with the players he coaches in the secondary. But he proves his worth daily as a coach, sharing that depth of knowledge, stressing technique and nuance, imploring players to pore into film study and doing it all while genuinely wanting them to succeed. "Not only do I love playing but when you have somebody you can love playing for, it makes it that much better," UConn safety Obi Meli- fonwu said. "In a way, you don't want to let that person down. He was the type of coach that was hard on me, but I knew it came from the right place. A lot of times you get coaches that you don't understand, 'Why are you yelling at me? Why are you coaching me the way you're coaching me?' But I knew from him, because of the trust we built, it was coming from the right place because he wants to see me reach my maximum potential." Reggie Johnson, DL With a wealth of experience coach- ing defense, including stints as a coordinator at UAB and Alabama A&M, Johnson has fine-tuned an ability to evaluate players quickly and cater his coaching to maximize players' poten- tial. Johnson does it with what former players called a calm and respectful demeanor — an approach that quickly earns respect among players and has them yearning to produce for their coach. "He's hands-down one of the best coaches I've ever had," said Anthony Lanier, a D-end with the Redskins who played for Johnson at Alabama A&M. "Time and time again, he would put you in position to make plays. He wasn't one of those guys who was like, 'Oh, you're going to be my workhorse.' He put everyone in position to make plays. … Every drill would help certain people in certain ways; we weren't just doing the same drill for defensive ends the whole time. Everyone counts in gain- ing the knowledge and getting on the same level and on the same page, so that we knew what to expect of each other when we got on the field."