BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford head women's basketball coach Mike Morris has made a couple of changes to his coaching staff, Morris announced Wednesday.
 
Jessica Jackson has been hired as an assistant coach, replacing Jazmine Powers, who left last month to take the head coaching position at Homewood High School. Jackson's main responsibilities will be recruiting, academics and scheduling. Additionally, current assistant coach Ruth Ketcham has been named the staff's recruiting coordinator.
 
"We are super excited to add Jessica to our basketball family and basketball staff," Morris said. "With her experience, on and off the court, she'll add a great deal of value in recruiting and player development."
 
Jackson comes to Samford after serving as an assistant coach at Appalachian State University from 2014 to 2017. While at ASU, she worked with the team's guards, including skill development and academic monitoring. She was also heavily involved in recruiting, covering the states of North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Texas, as well as all junior colleges.
 
In addition to her coaching and recruiting responsibilities at ASU, she also worked on equipment, team travel and scheduling. She also assisted with compliance, community service and marketing. Jackson was also in charge of the program's Day Camp.
 
Before her time at ASU, Jackson worked as the director of women's basketball operations at Kent State University from 2012 to 2014. She started her coaching career as a graduate assistant at North Carolina State University from 2010 to 2012.
 
Jackson is a 2010 graduate of Western Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing. She also earned a Master of Education in Adult and Community College Education from North Carolina State in 2012. Her father, Andre Jackson, played basketball at Samford in the late 1970s, leading the team in assists during the 1975-76 season.
 
"Also, we are excited to name Ruth Ketcham as our recruiting coordinator," Morris said. "As a former player, she understands what Samford University is about and what Samford women's basketball is about. She's a tremendous worker and a loyal coach."
 
Ketcham has been a member of the Samford coaching staff for the last four seasons, but she will take on a new role as the staff's lead recruiter.
 
Throughout her time on the staff, Ketcham has involved in all aspects of the women's basketball program, including on-court coaching and recruiting.
      
 In her first two seasons, in addition to her coaching duties, Ketcham handled all aspects of the team's road trips, including lodging and meals.
        
Ketcham came to Samford after spending the 2012-13 season as a graduate assistant at Louisiana State University. At LSU, she assisted in all travel preparations. She was also in charge of the team's managers, and she oversaw and conducted study hall while on the road. Ketcham also assisted with team camp preparation and served as the contact for local high school coaches.
    
Ketcham played two seasons at Samford, starting at guard for the Bulldogs in both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. In her two seasons as a starter, Ketcham helped lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back Southern Conference Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament bids. 
    
As a senior, Ketcham ranked second on the team in rebounding (4.2 rpg.) and assists (1.9 apg.), and tied for second in scoring (8.8 ppg.). In her two seasons as a starter, Ketcham played in all 66 games the team played, starting 65 of those contests.
    
Ketcham, a native of Birmingham and graduate of Briarwood Christian School, earned her bachelor's degree in sports administration from Samford in 2012.