Bryan Jackson was named an assistant coach on July 1, 2018. He works with the cross country and distance groups for the Knights.
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the 2020 cross country season to January 2021 and shortened the season to just two races. However, those two races were enough for Jackson to guide Valerie Lastra to the UCF 5K and 6K freshman records. Lastra became the first Knight to be name The American Freshman of the Year, posting the fastest time by a freshman at the conference meet since 2017. Her fourth-place finish is the best conference debut by a Knight. Jackson's squad also turned in the best finish at the AAC Championship since 2016 with a fifth-place showing in Wichita.
The distance success carried over into the track season, as Lastra made her indoor debut by setting the UCF freshman record in the mile in her lone indoor meet. In her outdoor debut, she added her name to the record book again, setting both the freshman and school record in the 3000-meter run. Lastra added the freshman 1500m record to her resume at the Tom Jones Memorial to give her six total records in her first season as a Knight.
In addition to Lastra's success, Jackson also guided Charlotte Crook to back-to-back all-conference honors at The American Outdoor Championship. Crook tied the UCF record in the 1500-meter run while collecting the bronze medal in the race. A native of Preston, England, Crook became the first Knight to qualify for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in the 1500m.
Jackson's 2019 squad saw improvement as the Knights won the UCF Invitational title, with four members of the Black and Gold finishing in the top 10. It was the first meet victory since 2017 when the Knights captured the FL Runners Invite title, and the first time the Knights won their home meet since 2013.
During the outdoor track season, Jackson guided Charlotte Crook to a freshman record time of 4:31.55 in the 1500m. Crook also landed on the podium with a third-place finish in the 800-meter run at The American Championship. The freshman, who entered the meet with the fourth-best mark among league competitors, posted a time of 2:10.82.
In his first season guiding the cross country squad, UCF finished 25th overall as a team, improving one spot from last year's finish. All five Knights finished in the top 200.
Jackson joined 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.
He 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.
*Updated Aug. 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the 2020 cross country season to January 2021 and shortened the season to just two races. However, those two races were enough for Jackson to guide Valerie Lastra to the UCF 5K and 6K freshman records. Lastra became the first Knight to be name The American Freshman of the Year, posting the fastest time by a freshman at the conference meet since 2017. Her fourth-place finish is the best conference debut by a Knight. Jackson's squad also turned in the best finish at the AAC Championship since 2016 with a fifth-place showing in Wichita.
The distance success carried over into the track season, as Lastra made her indoor debut by setting the UCF freshman record in the mile in her lone indoor meet. In her outdoor debut, she added her name to the record book again, setting both the freshman and school record in the 3000-meter run. Lastra added the freshman 1500m record to her resume at the Tom Jones Memorial to give her six total records in her first season as a Knight.
In addition to Lastra's success, Jackson also guided Charlotte Crook to back-to-back all-conference honors at The American Outdoor Championship. Crook tied the UCF record in the 1500-meter run while collecting the bronze medal in the race. A native of Preston, England, Crook became the first Knight to qualify for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in the 1500m.
Jackson's 2019 squad saw improvement as the Knights won the UCF Invitational title, with four members of the Black and Gold finishing in the top 10. It was the first meet victory since 2017 when the Knights captured the FL Runners Invite title, and the first time the Knights won their home meet since 2013.
During the outdoor track season, Jackson guided Charlotte Crook to a freshman record time of 4:31.55 in the 1500m. Crook also landed on the podium with a third-place finish in the 800-meter run at The American Championship. The freshman, who entered the meet with the fourth-best mark among league competitors, posted a time of 2:10.82.
In his first season guiding the cross country squad, UCF finished 25th overall as a team, improving one spot from last year's finish. All five Knights finished in the top 200.
Jackson joined 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.
He 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.
*Updated Aug. 2021