Tremaine Jackson enters his third season as the defensive coordinator and fourth year overall with the nationally-ranked University of Sioux Falls Football Program.
In the past two seasons, Jackson has led a defense of a team that has gone 20-4 with two straight postseason berths. In that span, USF has been ranked in 23 straight national polls, rising as high as #4 in 2015. In the past two years, his defensive units has established an NCAA DII best 3.04 turnovers per game (73 in 24 games). Only Colorado-Pueblo has more overall turnovers (74) but did it in more games (29, 2.55 per game). In addition, USF has an NSIC best 13 defensive TDs and 46 interceptions over the past two seasons. In the past two years USF has 69 sacks, which ranks second in the NSIC during that period. Also USF has ranked in the league's top five in both scoring defense and total defense and top two in turnover margin.
Over the past two years USF has had 14 players on defense named to the NSIC All-league team, including 10 on first or second team and four honorable mention. Named to the 2015 squad were first teamers Solomon St. Pierre and John Tidwell while Grant Schindler, Evan Gentry, Josh Butler and Carter Ahlers were named second team. Butler had a program, D2 best 104 tackles in 2015.Westly Johnson, who was named honorable mention All-NSIC, had 11.5 sacks which ranked 21st in DII and second in the NSIC in 2015..
USF was 9-3 in 2015, earning a berth in the NCAA DII playoffs after finishing tied for second overall in the NSIC. The defensive unit was ranked in the NCAA DIIÂ top-25 in six categories. Those areas include: team sacks, 12th (1st, NSIC), 39; interceptions, 10th (2nd, NSIC), 20; turnover margin, 15th (2nd, NSIC), 1.08, +13 (33-20); turnovers created, 6th (1st, NSIC), 33; defensive TDs, 4th (six TDs) and fumbles recovered, 22nd (13).
A year ago in league stats, USF ranked first in sacks (39), second interceptions (20), second in turnover margin (1.08, 33-20), fourth in opponent third down conversions (33.5 percent), fourth in opponent third down conversions (7 fourth in scoring defense (21.4 ppg), fifth in rushing defense (134.1 ypg), fifth in total defense (362.3 ypg), fifth in pass defense efficiency (118.7 ypg), sixth in pass defense (233.6 ypg).
The excellence on defense has been shown in that USF's has had two cornerbacks, John Tidwell and Solomon St. Pierre, earn first team all-league honors in back-to-back seasons. On top of that, the pair have earned numerous regional and national honors. St. Pierre earned six post season All-American honors, was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award and finished with 16 All-Americans honors for his career. St. Pierre ranked fourth nationally in both interceptions with nine and pass defended with 24. He set a school and NSIC record with 22 career interceptions while setting interception return yardage and TD marks. He later earned tryouts with three NFL teams. Tidwell became USF’s first ever three time first team All-NSIC honoree and was named second team Academic All-American while also picking up all-region honors.
In his first season as defensive coordinator, Jackson put together a defense, which was one of the best in NCAA DII. The Cougars defense, which transitioned to a 4-3 in 2014, played a central role in USF’s 11-1 record and final rankings of #16 (D2football.com) and #18 (AFCA) in the national polls. USF’s defense put a finishing touch on the season by allowing just 10 points (42-10), forcing three turnovers and tying a season-high with five sacks in a Mineral Water Bowl win over Central Oklahoma on Dec. 6, 2014.
This summer (2015), Jackson served as a special teams intern for the San Diego Chargers in the NFL's Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship Program.
During the 2014 campaign, the Cougars ranked 12th in the nation in scoring defense (17.4 ppg). In addition, USF was one of the nation's best in forcing turnovers, converting seven (nation-high) into defensive TDs. The Cougars recorded 26 interceptions which ranked best in the league and second nationally. Those interceptions combined with 14 fumble recoveries gave USF a turnover margin of 1.67 (40-to-20) which ranked fourth in the nation. In addition, the defense/special teams had a nation-best 10 TDs (seven on defense). In fact, the Cougars allowed just 12 passing TDs and 13 rushing TDs on the season. After allowing 26.8 points (295) in 2013, the Cougars gave up just 17.4 (181) in 2014, a total which ranked second in the NSIC and 12th in NCAA DII.
The progress the defense made during 2014 under Jackson's tutelage as a fitst year coordinator was significant. The Cougars ranked 12th (221.0) in the NSIC in pass defense in 2013 but moved up to third (204.4). In rushing defense, the Cougars improved from 13th (220.1) in 2013 to fourth (152.4) in league stats during 2014.  Meanwhile, the team jumped from 13th in total defense (441.1) to third (356.8) in the NSIC -- an improvement of 85 yards per game. In 2014, USF was first in the NSIC in pass defense efficiency at 90.5 and ranked fourth nationally. In addition, the Cougars ranked third in the league with 30 sacks, including two games of five or more and four games with at least four sacks or better.
Several members of the USF defense were recognized nationally, including cornerback Solomon St. Pierre, who was named a Cliff Harris Award nominee (DII defensive player of the year)Â to six first team All-American squads. In addition, John Tidwell, the other starter at cornerback, was named honorable mention All-American (Don Hansen) and to the CoSIDA All-District 12 Team. Both were first team All-NSIC selections. Both defensive lineman Grant Schindler and Evan Gentry were second team all-league selections. Named honorable mention All-NSIC included defensive lineman Jarett Grabbe along with linebackers Carter Ahlers and Cameron Ostrom.
Jackson joined the Cougar staff in 2013 after serving as the defensive coordinator/defensive line coach at Evangel University (Mo.). In 2013, Jackson was a defensive line coach. The defense anked sixth in the NSIC and 70th in the nation in scoring defense (26.8 ppg). The squad held six of its eleven opponents to below their season scoring average while intercepting nine passes and recording 16 sacks.
Defensive back John Tidwell earned NSIC South first team defense accolades, while linebacker John Batinich was tabbed the NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year. In addition, defensive lineman Grant Schindler was an NSIC South honorable mention selection and defensive back Solomon St. Pierre was named the NSIC defensive player of the week for his pick-six, two-interception, five-tackle outburst at Wayne State.
Before coming to USF, Jackson's Evangel defensive unit ranked No. 10 in the NAIA in forced turnovers with 28 in 2012. The Crusaders finished the season with a mark of 7-4 (6-3 HAAC), and ranked 23rd in the nation.
Jackson joined the Texas Southern University coaching staff in 2008, staying through the 2011 season. As the tight ends coach in 2008, he mentored a second team All-SWAC selection. The next two seasons he headed one of the top defensive lines in the country. In 2010, TSU won the SWAC conference title, led the nation in sacks and ranked No. 1 in the FCS for total defense (204.9 ypg).
In 2011, Jackson was promoted to TSU’s defensive coordinator. His his unit allowed just 245 yards per game, which was the top mark in the FCS for the second-straight season. Under Jackson’s tutelage, TSU’s defensive line tallied two All-American selections and three first team All-SWAC selections.
Jackson also served one season (2007) as the defensive line coach at Trinity Valley Community College (Texas). That season Trinity Valley’s defensive line accounted for five all-conference players and three all-region selections.
In 2006, he was the defensive line coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Jackson served as a coach in the 2008 Texas versus the Nation All-Star Game and had the opportunity to work with coaching legend Gene Stallings. In 2009, he also participated in the NFL minority internship program where he worked with the Houston Texans.
A Houston, Texas, native, Jackson played two seasons on the offensive line at Texas Southern after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe. He earned his degree from the University of Houston in 2006.
Jackson and his wife Charie have one daughter, Harmony.
