KU Football Hires Assistant Coach, Promotes Another

Feb. 15, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. — University of Kansas Head Coach Mark Mangino announced today that Je’Ney Jackson has been hired as the team’s new cornerbacks coach. In addition, wide receivers coach Tim Beck was promoted to passing game coordinator.

“Je’Ney is a high energy coach with vast knowledge of cornerback play,” said Mangino. “He will elevate the level of play at that position.”

Jackson, who spent the last two seasons as assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Kansas football team, was an All-WAC cornerback at the University of Wyoming. A native of Guernsey, Wyo., he was a four-year letterman for the Cowboys from 1994 through 1997 and earned a biology degree from UW in 1998.

As a redshirt freshman in 1994, Jackson was a wide receiver, punt and kickoff returner. But as a sophomore, he found a home in the Cowboy secondary. He started five games at cornerback in 1995 and produced 45 tackles and two interceptions. His 98-yard interception return against UTEP is still a Cowboy record. As a junior, he appeared in all 12 games for the Cowboys at corner.

Jackson put together an outstanding senior season as a starter at left corner, earning All-WAC First Team honors. He was second on the team in interceptions with five, and also had 37 total tackles and broke up eight passes. He finished his career with 85 unassisted tackles, 129 total tackles and seven interceptions.

Jackson was considered to be one of the best athletes ever to come out of Wyoming. He experienced an outstanding career in three sports at Guernsey-Sunrise, earning 12 varsity letters in football, basketball and track. In 1992 he was selected as Wyoming’s Football Player of the Year by USA Today and the Casper Star-Tribune/Wyoming Radio Network. He was an honorable mention All-American, and earned Wyoming Shrine Bowl Offensive Most Valuable Player.

Jackson and his wife Audra, have three children, Dante’, Tre’ Sean and Bre’ Anna.

Beck, who has served the last two seasons as KU’s wide receivers coach, will now also direct the team’s passing game. During his time in Lawrence, Beck helped develop receiver Dexton Fields whose 45 receptions last year were the most ever by a KU sophomore. In 2005, Beck worked with Mark Simmons who ended his career at Kansas with a school-record 155 receptions.

Prior to his arrival at Kansas, Beck was one of the most highly-respected high school coaches in the states of Texas and Arizona, and also coached at Missouri State, Kansas State and Illinois State.

A former collegiate quarterback, wide receiver and punter, Beck is a 1988 graduate of Central Florida where he majored in liberal studies. He graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, where he starred in football, basketball and baseball.

— KU —