ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF head track and field coach Dana Boone announced the addition of Bryan Jackson, Ricardo Page and Adria Parker to her staff.
The trio officially started on July 1. Jackson will work with the cross country and distance groups for the Knights, while Page will work primarily with the throwers. Parker will serve as the director of operations.
"I'm excited to bring my new assistants to UCF," Boone said. "Coach Jackson is someone that I have worked with before. Coach Page is a young and hungry coach. I am happy that Adria wanted to be a part of this journey with me and I am looking forward to having her on staff."
Jackson joins the UCF staff after three seasons as the men's cross country and assistant track and field coach at the University of Pittsburg. While with the Panthers, he led the cross country squad to its best ACC Championship team finish in program history.
Prior to Pitt, Jackson crossed paths with Coach Boone at Texas State from 2011-15 where he experienced tremendous success, including three Western Athletic Conference Track and Field Championship titles in 2013. With the Bobcats, Jackson helped student-athletes break nine school records. He coached one NCAA National qualifier, eight NCAA Division I Preliminary qualifiers, 13 Sun Belt All-Conference performers, nine Western Athletic Conference All-Conference performers and four Southland All-Conference performers.
A Pittsburgh native, Jackson was a two-time letter winner for the Bowling Green cross country team while pursuing a degree in business administration. He made his collegiate coaching debut with the Falcons before taking over the Wofford cross country and track and field programs. He coached the 2009 Southern Conference Cross County Male Freshman of the Year and helped 15 student-athletes earn All-Freshman Team honors.
"Coach Jackson knows what I want and understands the vision for the program," Boone said. "He is a relentless recruiter and an extremely hard worker. I know he will bring a contagious enthusiasm and help us move the program forward."
He has coached student-athletes to four conference championships, 27 all-conference accolades and 65 school records. Under his tutelage, Nick Wolk was crowned the 5000m champion at the 2017 USA Track and Field Junior National Championship.
Page joins the Knights after serving as the assistant coach at Georgia State for four seasons. With the Panthers, he helped his student-athletes set 10 school records and led a pair of throwers to the NCAA outdoor nationals in 2017. Page guided LaPorscha Wells to All-America honors in the weight throw in 2017, along with the Sun Belt Most Outstanding Field Performer honor after winning both the shot put and hammer throw at the 2015 outdoor championship.
Prior to Georgia State, Page tutored the SWAC champion discus thrower with Jackson State. In 2014, Page's discus competitors took first, seventh, 11th and 13th among the 27 throwers. His shot putter earned second in the SWAC indoor championship and his high jumper finished tenth.
At Union College, he coached three conference champions and an NAIA national qualifier and was on the staff that secured the first women's conference title in school history. He coached at Southern Miss as a volunteer assistant, helping tutor the C-USA 2009 indoor weight throw female champion and the male outdoor shot put champion.
Page, a Jamaica native, earned a bachelor's degree in coaching education at Southern Miss and earned a master's degree in health and physical education from Union College (Ky.). As a student-athlete at Southern Miss (2005-08), Page set a school record and was an All-Conference USA discus thrower.
"Coach Page has shown proven success at scoring at the NCAA level and has expanded his coaching areas outside of just the throws as he can coach the high jump as well as assist with the mutli- event athletes," Boone said. "He hails from Jamaica and I hope to utilize those Caribbean connections in recruiting future student-athletes to UCF."
Parker was a track and field student-athlete at Texas Tech under Coach Boone. She competed in the sprints, primarily in the 400-meter dash and as a member of the 4x400 relay.