ASU women’s tennis coach Jamea Jackson, center, provides guidance to Aiya Nupbay, left, and Karysn Evans during practice. The Sun Devils compete in their first Big 12 tennis tournament starting Friday. (Photo courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)
PHOENIX – When Jamea Jackson first ventured onto the courts as an 11-year-old at the Nick Bollettieri Academy (now IMG Academy), she didn’t realize she was taking the first steps toward a career that would help shape the future of tennis.
Now, in her debut season as coach of Arizona State’s women’s tennis team, she is not just calling the shots, she’s breaking barriers as one of few Black female coaches mentoring young athletes and redefining leadership in collegiate tennis.
Jackson’s team will make its Big 12 conference tournament debut Thursday when ASU, seeded sixth, takes on No. 14 seed Colorado in Waco, Texas. The Sun Devils, with a 13-8 overall regular season record and an 8-5 mark in the conference, hope to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament in early May.
Jackson’s tennis journey began in Atlanta, where she trained under the guidance of a strong support system. Her father, Ernest Jackson, was a former NFL cornerback, bloodlines that suggest she was destined to pursue a career in sports.
Her breakthrough moment came in 1995, when she won the American Tennis Association Nationals at 9. The ATA was the only organization that allowed African Americans to compete in tennis in the early 1900s, and it continues to develop Black junior players.
With this victory, she caught the attention of Bollettieri, the legendary coach, earning a scholarship to train at IMG Academy in Florida.
“When Nick noticed me and said, ‘Hey, you could be a pro,’ it kind of got my mind thinking in a way that was different than before,” Jackson said. “All I was thinking about before was a college scholarship. But after being there for a week and seeing how the players were training to go pro, a light bulb went on.”
Despite having a solid foundation in Atlanta, Jackson and her family recognized that Florida’s year-round weather conditions and elite-level competition were essential to her development. She made the difficult decision to leave home, immersing herself in an environment where top talents like Maria Sharapova and Jelena Jankovic trained.
“We definitely pushed each other,” Jackson said. “One of us would have success. I beat them sometimes and then they would beat me. I belong here, so why not me?
“That environment made me realize that you can do so much more with a group of people pushing each other than you can alone.”
Making history
Jackson turned professional in 2003, quickly rising to a career-high ranking of No. 45 in the Women’s Tennis Association. She competed in all four Grand Slam events, experiencing the intensity and solitude of professional tennis.
“Tennis outside of college is very individual,” Jackson said. “There’s this quiet that you get into when you’re out there playing.
“So much of what you do outside of the matches is training, media and sponsorships but when you compete, it’s just you, and everything gets still. There’s no feeling like it.”
There’s also no feeling like being forever etched in the history books. Jackson is listed as the first player to use the Hawk-Eye challenge system while on tour. Laughing about the moment, she recalled when she turned toward the chair umpire during a match in Miami and asked for the instant replay.
“I hit a backhand so far out, but I thought, ‘Oh, I need to use the challenge system,’” Jackson said. “I was completely wrong, but it’s still cool to be a part of history.”
Jackson went on to win that match (7-5, 6-7, 7-5) and appeared to be on an upward trajectory.
Unfortunately, her professional career was cut short at age 22 due to a hip injury. While her playing days ended sooner than expected, a new opportunity in tennis was waiting.
A passion for coaching
In 2006, ASU women’s tennis coach Jamea Jackson completed in Wimbledon and, if fact, played in all four grand slams. (Photo by Carl de Souza/AFP via Getty Images)
Transitioning from athlete to coach was not just a career move, it was a calling. Jackson got her coaching start at Oklahoma State, where she played a key role in turning the Cowgirls’ unranked program into a top-25 team. She later spent nearly a decade with the USTA, working with rising star Connie Ma and other top junior and national talent.
“The one word I think of most when it comes to coaching is ‘rewarding,’” Jackson said. “When you’re playing, you have ups and downs, and you never really feel the highs because you’re always on to the next tournament. But in coaching, when a kid breaks through, you feel it, and that’s addicting.”
She then took over as the coach of Princeton University’s women’s tennis team. There, she led the program to Ivy League titles and earned Ivy League Coach of the Year honors.
Her ability to connect with players goes beyond strategy and training; it’s about relationships. Her approach is inspired by two coaches who have since passed, yet left an invaluable impression on the person she is today.
“My first coach, Ernie Peterson, and (Nick) Bollettieri were huge influences on me,” said Jackson, growing emotional as she spoke about them. “It wasn’t just what they taught, but how they made people feel. They pushed us to be better human beings. And now, as a coach, that’s what I want to do.”
That sentiment is echoed by her players at ASU. Sun Devils senior Patricija Spaka described Jackson as a coach who always brings positive energy.
“The way she connects with us, she’s always smiling, and that helps us stay positive. It makes us want to work harder,” Spaka said.
“She always reminds us that energy is what wins matches,” freshman Lily Taylor said. “You can see it in our matches. When we have more energy, we do better as a team.”
Jackson’s leadership has also caught the attention of others in the tennis community. Ayden Vasquez, a tennis writer, emphasized the importance of Jackson’s transition from player to coach.
“Her transition is substantial in a way that a lot of people outside of sports don’t really understand,” Vasquez said. “It’s cementing a legacy and passing knowledge down to the next generation.
“Not only is it a big thing for her personally, but it’s a major step for African American women in tennis coaching. You don’t see a lot of Black coaches in tennis. Her success is part of a bigger wave of change in the sport.”
Breaking barriers and embracing pressure
Jackson understands the significance of being one of the few Black female head coaches in collegiate tennis.
“As a kid, I was often the only person who looked like me on the court,” Jackson said. “There are definitely more of us now, but it’s still rare. My dad played professional football and was part of the first Black players at Duke. His experiences were even harder, but he prepared me for what was to come.
“He taught me how to navigate spaces where I was the only one, and now, my focus is on making sure the next generation has even more opportunities.”
In 2024, a new opportunity indeed was on the horizon.
Stepping into the role previously held by Sheila McInerney, who coached ASU for more than 40 years, came with its own set of challenges, but Jackson embraces them.
“I definitely took my time in making the decision beforehand to know if I wanted to follow in the footsteps of a legend,” Jackson said. “I got many calls from friends asking, ‘Do you want to do this? Are you sure?’ But I’ve been in this game for a long time, and I love a challenge.
“As soon as I realized that, it’s been full steam ahead. As Billie Jean King said, ‘Pressure is a privilege.’ I love it.”
Media relations assistant Zach Wargo, who has observed the team closely, sees Jackson’s impact firsthand.
“She’s been very supportive of both the newcomers and returners,” Wargo said. “You can tell the players respond well to her. She cares about them and wants to get the best out of them every day. She understands the highest level of tennis, and she knows how to push them while keeping them engaged.”
Looking ahead
In Jackson’s first season, she has focused on getting to know her players and building a strong team culture.
“The ASU community and family environment have been the most encouraging thing,” Jackson said. “This is a place I could see myself for a long time if the tennis gods have it in their sights.”
While her long-term goals at ASU are still taking shape, her mission remains clear: helping her athletes succeed on and off the court while opening doors for the next generation of players and coaches.
“I love this game, and I want to continue giving back to it,” Jackson said. “That’s why I coach.”