Hartford Colonials Hire Harold Jackson for Coaching Staff
April 11, 2011 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Hartford Colonials News Release
EAST HARTFORD, CT - April 11, 2011 - Hartford Colonials head coach and general manager JERRY GLANVILLE has named HAROLD JACKSON as his wide receivers coach for the 2011 United Football League season.
Jackson brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Colonials from a distinguished 16-year career as a wide receiver in the National Football League and 10 years as an NFL receivers coach. He is a familiar name to New England football fans from his years with the Patriots, first as a player (1978-81) and later as an assistant coach (1985-89), helping the team make its first Super Bowl appearance. He was also receivers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ('92-93) and New Orleans Saints ('97-99).
"I've always loved that part of the country, up there in New England," Jackson said. "I was glad that Jerry Glanville got the job because it gave me the opportunity to come back to that area. I get fan mail every day, and the majority of the fan mail comes from the New England area.
"I played there for four years and coached there for five or six years. I made a lot of friends and I know they'll be glad when I come back in that area. I hope to get a chance to visit with a lot of them when they come down for a ball game. I'm excited about it."
Jackson was a member of Glanville's coaching staff in the NFL Players Association Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game on February 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.
"I watched him teach and improve young players and was very impressed with him," Glanville said. "Harold will be a real plus for Hartford."
Jackson, a native of Hattiesburg, Miss., served as wide receivers coach at Baylor University (2003-06) and the University of Kentucky (2001-02). Between his NFL coaching stints with the Patriots and Buccaneers, he was an assistant at North Carolina Central University in 1990 and offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Night of the Arena Football League.
Following his coaching stint with Tampa Bay, Jackson was head coach at Virginia Union College (1994) and Benedict College ('95-96) before returning to the NFL sidelines with New Orleans as a member of Mike Ditka's coaching staff.
As a player, Jackson was a five-time Pro Bowl receiver and named to three All-Pro teams. He was a 12th round draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 1968 and also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. Jackson finished his career with 579 receptions and 79 touchdowns, and he amassed 10,372 receiving yards, which at the time of his retirement ranked second all-time behind Don Maynard.
"Some of the stuff I used to do as a player, I can translate that to the guys," Jackson said. "What makes me feel good is seeing guys do the things that I used to do. What I teach them, I can see it right there on the football field. That's the best thing in the world for me, to see that happening."
Following his rookie season with the Rams in 1968, Jackson was traded to Eagles and emerged as a rising star. Coming off his second Pro-Bowl season with Philadelphia in 1972, the Eagles traded Jackson back to the Rams, where he became one of the top receivers in the league.
Jackson joined the Patriots in 1978 and spent the next four seasons with New England, where he teamed with Stanley Morgan to give New England one of the best receiving duos in the NFL. Jackson joined the Patriots coaching staff in 1985, helping the team win the AFC Championship that season.
The UFL begins its third season in August as the Colonials play an eight-game schedule against teams from Las Vegas, Omaha, Sacramento and Virginia. The 2011 schedule will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can register for tickets for the 2011 Colonials season at www.HartfordColonials.com.
United Football League Stories from April 11, 2011
- Defending UFL Champion Locos Kickoff 2011 Open Tryouts - Las Vegas Locomotives
- Former Nebraska Cornhuskers Tryout For Omaha Nighthawks - Omaha Nighthawks
- Hartford Colonials Hire Harold Jackson for Coaching Staff - Hartford Colonials
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
