MATTOON -- Lake Land College has a new head coach in Lainey Jackson for the Laker volleyball program, according to a news release Thursday.

Jackson, an alum of Cumberland High School, is the newest hire for the program. Jackson, a four-time all-Lincoln Prairie Conference selection, continued her playing career at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield. During her time there, she would receive the Midwest Athletic Conference's Freshman of the Year honors. She would also receive NJCAA All-American honors.

Jackson would later move on with her career at Blue Mountain College in Blue Mountain, Miss. After returning to Central Illinois, Jackson was an assistant coach at Teutopolis High School under coach Jim Dietz for the past four years. She has also been involved in a coaching capacity with Club 217 Volleyball.

“Getting the opportunity to coach the sport that I love in a place that I love was something I couldn’t pass up,” Jackson said. “It’s really just an honor. It doesn’t even really feel real yet that I’m here. I’m just still so head over heels happy that I’m getting the opportunity to do this.”

Jackson stresses to athletes considering playing in college that Lake Lake Land offers high-level competition. In addition, the college also offers quality facilities that are certain to excite all players.

“A lot of people overlook community college just because they don’t realize how competitive it can be,” she said. “This is one of the nicest community colleges I’ve ever been to in my volleyball career. We’re here to push, not just other community colleges, but universities as well, to be one of the most competitive teams in the nation.”

Jackson makes her head coaching debut at the Opening Weekend Tournament in Rockford on August 18. The Lakers' first home match will be September 6 at the LLC Field House against Lincoln Trail College.

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