Scott Jackson, who spent eight seasons with the UNC baseball program before taking the head coaching job at Liberty in 2017, is returning to Chapel Hill to join Scott Forbes’ coaching staff. Jackson will be both an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

“I’m thankful that Coach Forbes has offered me a chance to return to North Carolina as an assistant coach,” Jackson said. “My family and I are excited to return to Chapel Hill and to coach alongside a man who is one of my closest friends.”

In Jackson’s first stint in Chapel Hill, the Diamond Heels made three Men’s College World Series Appearances and brought in seven recruiting classes which ranked in the nation’s top seven. He and Forbes were both assistant coaches under then-head coach Mike Fox.

Once he went to Liberty, Jackson led the Flames to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Liberty won the ASUN Championship in 2019 and Jackson earned conference Coach of the Year honors.

“Scott is a long-time friend of mine dating back to when we coached together with the Wilmington Sharks [of the Coastal Plain League] in 2000, and I’m so excited to have him back at North Carolina and on our coaching staff,” Forbes said. “He has a long track record of recruiting exceptional baseball players and young men and developing them into the best version of themselves. Our players and our program will benefit greatly from his expertise.”

In addition to Jackson’s hiring, assistant coach Jason Howell has been named UNC’s Director of Pitching Performance, Development and Analytics. Assistants Bryant Gaines and Jesse Wierzbicki will stay in their roles.

Jackson’s hiring has already made ripples in UNC’s recruiting efforts. Two Liberty standouts, outfielder Kane Kepley and pitcher Cale Bolton, have announced their intentions to transfer to Carolina. Meanwhile, high school prospect Sawyer Black, who had committed to Liberty initially, has flipped his commitment to the Tar Heels. Black is ranked as the top outfielder in North Carolina and the No. 3 player overall in the state.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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