CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Eddie Jackson announced his retirement effective August 1.
 
After 30 years in higher education in the State of Oklahoma, Jackson will retire after spending nearly 12 years as a member of the Hillcat athletic department.
 
"I have known Eddie for many years prior to coming to Rogers State," Director of Athletics Chris Ratcliff said. "We have always enjoyed a great working relationship. In the six months I've been at Rogers State, I have come to appreciate Eddie's service to Hillcat Athletics over the past 12 years and in turn Eddie and I have developed a great friendship. Eddie is and will always be a Hillcat. He has served in many capacities over that time and has helped build RSU Hillcat Athletics into the respected department it is today. Eddie will be dearly missed by the student-athletes, coaches, staff and members of the community that have come to know him during his tenure. We wish him the best of luck in his retirement after 30 years of service in higher education in this state."
 
The longest tenured administrator for the Hillcats, Jackson was hired by then Director of Athletics Wren Baker in 2006 as an Assistant Athletic Director. He assisted Baker in the development of the athletic department from its infancy.
 
"Eddie Jackson has become synonymous with athletics at RSU and is a true educator," former Rogers State Director of Athletics and current University of North Texas Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. "He was instrumental as we developed and built the program from scratch. He is a loyal friend to many and was willing to do any task in the early years to help coaches and student-athletes be successful. I am proud to call Eddie a colleague and friend and wish him the very best in retirement."
 
With the recommendation by a University task force to seek application for NCAA membership in 2010 the need for a compliance department to monitor NCAA rules and legislation became necessary. Jackson was promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Compliance with the responsibility of forming a full scale compliance department regulating NCAA, Heartland Conference and University rules and legislation.
 
"It's hard to imagine RSU Athletics without Eddie," former RSU Director of Athletics and current University of Alabama Associate Vice President for Marketing and Branding Ryan Bradley said. "He has played an instrumental role in the Hillcats' growth and development over the years. Building a program from the ground up was daunting and often tedious, but no task was ever too big or too small for Eddie. His loyalty is unmatched and I know he will be sorely missed. I appreciate everything he gave to RSU during my tenure and wish him and his family the very best in retirement." 
 
He was vital in the University's transition from NAIA membership to full NCAA membership in 2016 as he developed a compliance manual with policies and procedures for the RSU athletic department. He also established a Compliance Review Committee that develops, implements and oversees the compliance program.
 
"I wish Eddie nothing but the best in his retirement," former Hillcat Director of Athletics and current East Texas Baptist University Vice President for Athletics Ryan Erwin said. "It will be hard to imagine Hillcat Athletics without Eddie Jackson, but I am grateful for the dedication, blood, sweat, tears, time and effort that he gave to RSU over the years and during my stint on College Hill. Eddie truly embodies what being a Rogers State Hillcat means, and I know he will be missed throughout the RSU community. His work during the transition to NCAA Division II membership was instrumental in the institution being granted full membership. I will be forever grateful for the way Eddie welcomed my family and me to Claremore and RSU from day one and I am forever grateful for that and his friendship."
 
Last August, Jackson was promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance for his role in the NCAA membership process. Following the departure of Ryan Erwin to East Texas Baptist University, Jackson was named Interim Director of Athletics and served in that role through December.
 
Jackson was responsible for all aspects of compliance for RSU's 12 intercollegiate programs. His duties included oversight of eligibility certification, monitoring methods and procedures in the athletic department and rules education initiatives for coaches and staff. He also was responsible for helping ensure NCAA compliance, helping with external fundraising and facility management.
 
Jackson's 30 years of service to higher education in the State of Oklahoma began in 1982 as a member of the Northeastern State University football coaching staff. In 1990, he began working in administration at NSU until 2000.
 
He previously worked as a NCAA Division I basketball official for the Big 12, Big 10 and Conference USA among others, working nine straight NCAA Tournaments and two Elite Eight games. He currently serves as the coordinator of men's basketball officials for the Missouri Valley Conference, Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference and the Great American Conference. Beginning in the fall of 2016, he began serving as a member of the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee.
 
Jackson was recognized by the Outstanding Young Men of America in 1985 and again by the OYMA in 1996. He was awarded the Outstanding Men's Basketball Official in Oklahoma for 1990 and elected Coordinator of Northeast Area for College and Career Programs in 1996.
 
Dawn Tatro, currently Assistant Athletic Director for Student Development, has been tabbed to serve as the Compliance Director for RSU Athletics.
 
Rogers State Athletics will host a come-and-go reception honoring Eddie Jackson on Thursday, Aug. 3 from 3 – 4:30 p.m. in the Executive Board Room located inside the Centennial Center on the Claremore campus of RSU.