Saint Paul's College names Mrs. Gwendolyn Jackson as head Women's Basketball Head Coach Natalie McFarland 09/13/10 There is a new roar in town for the Saint Paul's College Lady Tigers. Mrs. Gwendolyn Jackson comes from a small town, Eufavla, Alabama. She graduated from Eufavla High School in 1999 and went on to further her education at the University of Tennessee, where she has received two degrees; one in African American Studies and the other in Child Psychology. Jackson also has a degree in Secondary Education in English, which she received from the University of Phoenix. Upon graduating from college in 2003, Mrs. Jackson was drafted into the WNBA. She held this career for five consecutive years. In 2003, she began her professional basketball career playing for the San Antonio Silver Stars. She was traded to the Phoenix Mercury in 2004 and was a team member until 2006. Jackson played her final season in 2007 with theLos Angeles Sparks. Mrs. Jackson speaks proudly of being the only person from her hometown to make it to a professional sports career. Retiring from the game in 2007,Mrs. Jackson went on to teach at her hometown's elementary school until 2008. While out recouping from an ACL surgery, she received a phone call for a position as an assistant basketball coach at Saint Paul's College. Excited and ready to help those who share the same dreams that she had accomplished, she packed her things and arrived at Saint Paul's in August of2008. There were a few things Mrs. Jackson was willing to sacrifice in order to take on this position, including leaving her two year old daughter, now four years of age, back in Tennessee with her parents and family. Now in 2010, Jackson is no longer an assistant, she is the head coach to the Lady Tigers of Saint Paul's College! Not only does she wish to be the first coach from Saint Paul's to win a CIAA championship, she also desires to produce a winning program and develop good character in her players; which Jackson believes is a must. Jackson is the perfect role model for her current career, and to those who may wish to pursue some of her same accomplishments. Gwendolyn not only holds the title as the ladies head coach, she also serves as the Senior Women Administrator. Within five years Jackson would like to have her own home built, have one of the women that plays for her make it to the WNBA and to complete her Master's degree; in which she is currently working on. When asked what advice she has for her players as well as anyone else she said, "Put work into everything that you strive to do, anything is possible and always have a plan B". Jackson also states that as a previous single mother she has accomplished a lot for her situation and agrees that a lot of people may come from all types of backgrounds, whether single parents, poverty or broken homes, but that doesn't put a limit on how far they can go in life. To motivate herself, Jackson held on to a quote: "It's not where you start; it's where you end up". Much Luck goes out to the new coach and the Lady Tigers!