Basketball Staff

Head Coach: Jim Jackson

Office Phone: (336) 721-2894

Email: jim.jackson@salem.edu 

Overall Record at Salem: 44-68 (7 seasons)

Jim Jackson is in his seventh season as the head coach for the Salem College basketball team. Jackson coached Salem to its first three wins in school history during the 2005-2006 season. The team finished the season with a 3-15 record. The following year Jackson led the team to an incredible turn-around, and a NCAA DIII Association of Independents Atlantic Region Championship. The 2006-2007 team had a 16-8 record, and Jackson was named as the AD3I Coach of the Year. The Spirits finished last season with a 9-14 record.

Jackson started his coaching career at three high schools(First Baptist, Fort Johnson, and James Island) in Charleston, SC.He led his teams to eight AAA Western Division Conference Championships. Jackson moved to college coaching at Rutledge College,where he led the team to the Carolina Independent Conference Championship in his first season, and as runners-up in his second year. Jackson also coached at Forsyth Technical Community College (NJCAA).

He was also a very talented athlete as an All-Conference basketball and baseball player at Dillon High School. Jackson was the co-captain of the basketball team at Montreat-Anderson College.He also received a baseball scholarship to Mars Hill College.

Assistant Coaches: Barry Lawing, Justin Thomas, and Emily Long

Justin Thomas, a native of Winston-Salem, attended Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, where he played basketball for two years and served as Vice-President of his senior class.  After high school, Justin served two tours of duty overseas in the US Navy.   He graduated from UNC Charlotte with a BA in History in 2010 and is currently enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Salem College.   Justin is in his second year as assistant basketball coach at Salem College.

Barry Lawing has an M. A. degree from Wake Forest University and is currently a History Instructor at Forsyth Tech and an adjunct instructor at High Point University. He is the author of Demon Deacon Hoops: The History of Wake Forest Basketball .  Barry joined the Salem College Basketball Staff as a volunteer assistant coach in 2010.

Emily Long was born and raised in Melbourne, Florida where she attended Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy and played basketball for 4 years as center/forward. Upon graduation, Long attended Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia where she received a BA in American History and continued to play basketball in the center/forward position. She also studied at University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida where she received a MA in Higher Education and Policy Studies in May 2011. Long is currently a Residential Coordinator at Salem College.