WOMEN'S HOOPS: Jenteal Jackson Named New Weber State WBB Head Coach

Photo Credit: Weber State Athletics

A new era in Ogden started this week when Weber State AD Tim Crompton announced Utah-native Jenteal Jackson would take the helm of the women's basketball program on campus.

Jackson won't have to travel far, coming to Ogden after serving as head coach at Westminster College in Salt Lake City for the past two seasons. In her time leading the Griffins, she tallied a 34-21 record overall, boasting a 21-12 mark in conference play and ending 5th in the RMAC in both campaigns.

Jackson is no stranger to college hoops in the state of Utah. She committed to BYU after logging a successful dual-sport career at Skyline High in basketball and golf. After two seasons in Provo, she transferred to Westminster College in her hometown of SLC, playing basketball and golf for them, as well.

After graduation in 2013, Jackson immediately joined the staff of Westminster head coach Shelley Jarrard before becoming head coach herself in 2021.

Looking up and down the current Westminster roster, nearly 65% of players come from Utah. Recruiting more local players to boost attendance and fan buy-in is a strategy some in the community have championed to get more people in the Purple Palace. Based upon what the current makeup of the Griffins roster, it appears the Wildcats will once again recruit the Beehive state.

It is yet to be seen whether any Westminster players will follow Jackson to Ogden or how the current Wildcat roster will change based upon the announcement. The same goes for assistants that may be coming with Jackson to fill out the bench and take the program in a new direction.

Regardless of what happens this off-season, a new coach means hope for a fanbase that has had few highs and a lot of lows in recent memory. Let's hope the Jackson era at Weber State looks a bit more like Mount Ogden and less like the salty and shrinking Great Salt Lake.