New UNLV assistant Jackson has shined as Robinson’s, Jerry Buss’ right-hand man

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, March 25, 1999 | 12:11 p.m.

John Robinson has been blessed with his share of talented assistant coaches during his two previous college coaching stints at USC.

Folks like Norv Turner, Mike Riley, Hudson Houck, Gil Haskell, Paul Hackett, Bob Toledo and Ted Tollner have all gone on to become either successful college or NFL head coaches or assistants. But Robinson says John Jackson, who was recently hired as UNLV's assistant head coach and running backs coach, was as good as any of them.

"When he was at SC (from 1976-81), he was the most important assistant I think I ever had," Robinson said. "His influence on the team and his influence on me were second to none. I'm kind of an idea guy and he was the make-the-idea-happen guy. He made sure we didn't stray off-course."

Especially when it came to developing star running backs.

During his six years at Troy, Jackson coached two Heisman Trophy winners --- Charles White (1979) and Marcus Allen (1981) as well as the late Ricky Bell, who once rushed for a then-NCAA record 347 yards on 51 carries in a 23-14 victory over Washington State at the Kingdome. He also coached future NFL players like Lynn Cain and Mosi Tatupu.

So why isn't Jackson, 63, a head coach in the NFL or at a major college like some of his old colleagues?

There's a simple explanation for that. Jackson has spent the last 17 years as Jerry Buss' right hand man.

You know those weekly Forum Boxing shows you see on cable all the time? Jackson started and ran that organization.

Ever watch the Lakers or Kings on Fox Sports West? Jackson was the man who helped get that cable sports network off and running. In those days, it was called Prime Ticket.

And when he wasn't busy with those two projects, he was attending NBA meetings with his close friend Buss. Jackson was the governor to the NBA for the Lakers when Showtime was more associated with exciting basketball than as a cable movie channel.

Jackson also didn't do too badly as a father, either. Son John Jr. would go on to star as a wide receiver on three consecutive Rose Bowl teams at USC in the late '80s and left as the school's career reception leader, a mark since broken by NFL stars Keyshawn Johnson and Johnnie Morton.

And daughter Tracie has gone on to work in the marketing department for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Jackson could have joined Robinson as an assistant with the Rams in 1983 or at USC again in 1993.

"He's was one of the first people I called," Robinson said.

But Jackson's loyalty to Buss and the timing of those potential moves never quite worked out.

"Every time (Robinson) moved he asked me to join him," Jackson said. "Obviously they were terrific opportunities. But when he asked me to go to the Rams, I had only been associated with (Buss') California Sports for a year. I felt it was just too soon."

Buss was once a regular on the sidelines at USC home games during Robinson's first Trojan coaching stint and is very close to both Jackson and Robinson.

"Jerry Buss was great," Jackson said. "He said, 'Hey, if you don't have the coaching out of your system and want to go, go ahead because you can always come back. So it was extremely tempting."

But Jackson, an NYU graduate who had spent 29 years in coaching, said the offer to work with Buss was just too tempting.

"Essentially, my job was to start new projects, like Forum Boxing and Prime Ticket, and eventually turn them over to someone else. It was fun and challenging and got me involved in doing things I never really thought of doing before. But it was fun."

So much fun that Jackson still is working as a consultant for Buss. He has a special cell-phone on his desk in the Lied Athletic Complex that rings periodically during the day with questions from the folks back at the Forum.

"I've got good people working back there," Jackson said. "We can work things out over the phone."

So what was it about UNLV that made Jackson decide to return to coaching after a 17-year absence?

"How many times do you get an opportunity to look back at your life?" Jackson said. "I really loved coaching. And at this point in my life to have another opportunity to coach is very unique. And John's obviously a good friend of mine."

Still, Jackson has been away from college coaching for 17 years. One would think a lot has changed in the game during that time.

"The one thing that is great is that they're using video now instead of film," Jackson said. "We used to film our practices. Then we had to send the film out to get developed. Then somebody would have to go and pick it up. You'd lose a few hours waiting for the film to get developed. Now you can go take a shower and your video is waiting for you."

How much has the game changed on the field?

"I'm sure there are some changes," Jackson said. "But I'm not sure they're major changes. You still play with 11 players. There's only so many things you can do with 11 players."

"I don't think it will take him long to get back in the groove," Robinson said. "I was talking with Rob Boras our line coach the other day and he said, 'My god, it's like he's never been away.'

"There are some new things he'll need to pick up but John's an extremely smart and hard-driving guy. He's very detailed and very intelligent."

So how have Jackson's new players, most of whom were still in diapers the last time he coached, responded?

"They've been terrific," Jackson said. "This group of players have been cooperative, they want to learn and they're positive. They do the things you tell them are important to do. And they're nice people."

"When Coach Jackson says something you know you should listen," junior running back Jeremi Rudolph said. "This is a guy who coached people like Marcus Allen and Charles White, Heisman Trophy winners. He knows what he's doing."

Is it any coincidence that USC hasn't had a Heisman Trophy-winning tailback since Jackson left?

"Hey, don't look at me," Jackson says with a smile. "I never played a down.

"I was very fortunate," Jackson continues. "Those kinds of athletes don't come along back-to-back very often. For someone coaching the running game, that was as close to heaven as one can get."

Now Jackson will try and develop UNLV's running back tradition. Besides Robinson, there's at least one person who agrees with the move.

"I was just talking to Marcus Allen on the phone," Robinson said in his office Tuesday afternoon. "I told him about John coming back to coaching here. His reaction was, 'Wow, is that great. He's the greatest coach I've ever known."'