Individual Achievements
JAMEA JACKSON- Jackson joins the coaching ranks after completing a successful professional playing career that saw her rise as high as No. 45 in the world rankings in 2006 and compete in all four of the sports' grand slams. That same year, she represented the United States as a member of its Federation Cup Team. Jackson won both of her singles matches to help the American squad to victory over Germany.
The 2006 campaign also saw Jackson reach her first WTA Tour final where she lost to Vera Zvonareva in the title match of the DFS Classic.
In 2005, Jackson cracked the top 100 in the WTA rankings for the first time in her career, finishing the season ranked No. 75.
In Grand Slam events, Jackson made 11 appearances, including second-round showings at Wimbledon in 2005 and 2006. In addition, Jackson competed in at the 2006 Australian Open, the French Open in 2006 and 2007 as well as the U.S. Open every year from 2004 through 2008.
Jackson won two tournament titles during her professional career, claiming victories in 2004 at the ITF's stop in Tucson and in 2003 at the tour's event in Dallas. The 22-year-old also reached the finals at the Birmingham event in 2006 and was a three-time quarterfinalist on the ITF Circuit during her career.
She finished her professional career with 77 singles victories as well as seven doubles wins.
The 23-year-old Jackson owns career wins over several players ranked among the top 50 in the world, including Jelena Jankovic, Marion Bartoli and Maria Sharapova.
Coaching Achievements
CHRIS YOUNG-
Entering his first season at the helm of the Oklahoma State women's tennis program is Chris Young. After spending the past five years at the Wichita State Director of Tennis, Young returns to his home state where he competed as a collegian and began his coaching career.
A native of Norman, Okla., Young has compiled a career record of 190-95 while directing the men's and women's programs at both Wichita State and his alma mater, Oklahoma Christian.
During his time in Wichita, Young led the women's squad to a 94-38 mark, including a 33-6 ledger in Missouri Valley Conference play. A three-time conference coach of the year selection, Young guided the Shockers to league crowns in 2006, 2007 and 2009. Those seasons also resulted in the only three NCAA Tournament appearances in school history.
Young took a program that had never held a national ranking or defeated a ranked opponent and transformed the Shockers into a squad that was ranked for 43-straight weeks and defeated more than 20 ranked opponents under his direction.
The 2008-09 campaign saw Young's squad post a 21-6 mark and capture its third league title in four seasons. Individually, his players won 65 of their 68 individual matches in MVC action.
The fruits of his off-court work began to show as well as the Shockers finished the year ranked in the top 10 nationally in attendance.
The Shockers narrowly missed their third-straight conference title in 2008, finishing the year with a 16-8 mark and a runner-up finish at the MVC Tournament.
Young's third season at WSU proved to be one for the history books as his charges produced a school-record 27-3 mark and became the first-ever MVC squad to win an NCAA Tournament match. The Shockers knocked off 25th-ranked South Carolina in the first round to secure the school's first NCAA victory. Additionally, the Shockers climbed to No. 16 in the national rankings, making them the highest ranked team in the history of the MVC.
Five Shockers earned all-conference honors, including Madina Rakhim, who finished the year with a 29-2 mark at the No. 1 singles position. The Shockers were dominant up and down their lineup, finishing with a 66-1 record in their individual conference matches.
For his efforts, Young was named the ITA Central Region Coach of the Year. The 2007 campaign also saw him earn the USTA/ITA National Award for Community Service.
