Henderson State University Athletics

Beth Jackson begins her 13th season as the head coach of the Henderson State softball team in 2020-21.

Since her arrival to Henderson, Jackson has guided her teams to nine conference tournaments, including seven-straight Great American Conference Tournament appearances.

In her 12 years at Henderson, Jackson has compiled over 300 wins and led the 2015 Reddies to a 43-15 record, the most wins in school history, and the GAC title.

Jackson has coached 39 all-conference players, 10 of which have earned all-conference recognition multiple times. Seven players have earned All-Region, with Ashlyn White and Sarah Gipson earning All-American honors.

Jackson recorded her 200th win on March 20, 2016 with a 6-2 victory over Arkansas-Monticello. She recorded her 300th career victory on April 19, 2019 with a 2-1 win over Harding.

In 2015, Henderson State claimed its first-ever conference championship as the Reddies won the Great American Conference regular-season title.

After finishing as GAC Tournament runners-up, the Reddies earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Central Regional. In Henderson’s first-ever NCAA Tournament, the Reddies advanced to the NCAA Central Region II championship game.

Jackson earned GAC Coach of the Year honors, while Sarah Gipson earned Player of the Year honors and Michelle Sorensen being named Pitcher and Freshman of the Year. A total of four Reddies earned All-GAC honors with four players being named to the first-team.

The 2014 Reddies recorded a 31-25 overall record and a 24-16 conference play to place third in the league standings.

Henderson State also went on to finish in third-place in the GAC Tournament and five players earned All-GAC honors.

In 2013, the Reddies advanced to the GAC Tournament championship recording a win over Arkansas Tech and a pair of victories over East Central. Henderson also recorded a pair of wins over No. 2 nationally-ranked Southeastern Oklahoma earlier in the season.

Jackson, who is the first female to lead the Reddie softball program, was acting head softball coach at Nashville High School (Nashville, Ark.) before coming to Henderson. Prior to her appointment at Nashville, Jackson spent a year at Arkansas Tech University as an assistant coach.

While at ATU, Jackson’s responsibilities included handling the pitchers and outfielders, calling pitches in-game, recruiting, handling team travel, supervising weight training and conditioning workouts as well as daily administrative duties.

Before her time at Tech, Jackson spent two years as a graduate assistant coach at the University of North Alabama working under Coach Jeremy Reece from 2004 to 2006.
Her primary role at UNA was working with the pitching staff as well as recruiting.

Jackson later earned her master’s degree in health promotion and human performance in May of 2006.

Collegiately, Jackson ended her playing career at perennial powerhouse the University of Alabama-Huntsville where she lettered one year and earned Gulf South Conference Pitcher of the Week honors. While at UAH, Jackson played for legendary coach Les Stuedeman, and helped lead the Chargers to a GSC Championship in 2003 and an NCAA Regional appearance that same year.

Jackson would go on to earn her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Alabama-Huntsville in December of 2003.

Prior to her time at UAH, Jackson spent two years at Jefferson State Community College where she earned NJCAA All-Region and All-American honors. In 2001, Jackson was named the Alabama Community College Conference Player of the Year.

Jackson and her husband Kyle have three children, Claire, Presley and Laityn.

CAREER RECORD AT HENDERSON STATE