Athletes As Educators

Petra Jackson was one of the best players to come out of the St. Louis area and go on to have a stellar college career at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale before starting a coaching career. In addition, Petra has worked in the insurance industry for over 20 years while pursuing a coaching career as well. Jackson has coached with the St. Louis Surge, the professional women's basketball team in St. Louis and won a National Championship in 2014. She was an assistant coach at St. Louis University and  spent three seasons as the head coach at Shoreline Community College in Seattle, Washington, where she posted a 45-32 record. Under her direction, the team posted its first 20-win season and earned votes in the NWAACC coaches poll. In 2003-04, Jackson was nominated for the WBCA Region 8 Coach of the Year after leading Shoreline to its first playoff appearance and a second place finish in the league. Jackson was a standout guard at Southern Illinois University from 1982 to 1986. She finished her SIU career