Amani Jackson selected as Central State University assistant athletic trainer and strength & conditioning coach


WILBERFORCE, Ohio - Amani Jackson has been selected as Central State University's assistant athletic trainer as well as the department's strength and conditioning coach.
 

"CSU prioritizes the health, wellness, safety and overall collegiate experience of our student-athletes. Amani Jackson has the knowledge, passion, ability and overall versatile skillset to serve effectively as both a trainer and a strength and conditioning coach," Director of Athletics Tara A. Owens says. "Working alongside our new head athletic trainer Andrew Simmons as well as our new coaching staff, Amani will be key in the overall development and success of our student-athletes."
 

Jackson comes to Central State with experience working in the collegiate, high school and corporate levels of athletic training as well as strength and conditioning.
 

Prior to accepting the job at CSU, Jackson was an athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach at Anderson University. She primarily served the sports of women's volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, women's lacrosse and women's soccer. While at AU, she was part of all Covid-19 pandemic protocols including screening, testing, contact tracing, and developing protocols for safely returning to competition. Jackson was recognized as part of an AU sports medicine staff which received the 2020-21 HCAC commissioner's cup for managing sports throughout the pandemic.
 

Amani spent the 2017-2018 athletic season as an athletic trainer at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health Systems in Tyler, Texas. Along with managing a modest budget, Jackson managed 200 student-athletes within the Winona Independent School District. During the same time period, Jackson also served as athletic trainer at the Loras College Summer All-Sports Camp.
 

While earning her bachelors of science degree in Athletic Training from Indiana State University, Jackson gained vast clinical experience. While working towards her degree, she served as an athletic training assistant for the ISU women's basketball team, ISU football team, ISU track & field team, the Rural Health Innovation Collaborative Simulation Center and the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.


After ISU, Jackson continued her academic pursuits by earning her Master of Science in Sports Performance & Training from Concordia University Chicago.
 

"It is exciting to be at Central State University and have the opportunity to serve our student-athletes while being able to build a strength program that will allow student athletes to perform at their highest level," Jackson says. "During the interview process, I became motivated by the leaders on our campus and I know I will learn a lot from each of them as we all get ready for a safe return to competition this fall."
 
 
Jackson is a NSCA certified strength & conditioning specialist, a NASM certified performance enhancement specialist, and NATA certified. She has participated in multiple professional development seminars including the NATA annual convention, NATA iLead Conference, and the Great Lakes Athletic Trainer's Association meeting. Jackson was also featured in NATA News for her work titled Managing ADHD in Adolescent Athletes.