Episode 47: Transition to Insurance Industry and Taking Advantage of Opportunities with Petra Jackson

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 with 1,475 points and still ranks fourth on the all-time Saluki scoring list. Jackson holds the school record for career field goals made at 650 and is fourth on the all-time steals chart with 189. She was a first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection as a senior and also was the recipient of the Paul Roberson Award from SIU. Her teammates voted her Most Valuable Player. In 1991, she was inducted into the Southern Illinois University Hall of Fame. After her collegiate playing days, Jackson played professional basketball in the Women's Basketball Association from 1993 to 1995. Jackson began her coaching career in 1988 as an assistant coach at Harris-Stowe University. In 1992, she became the head coach for girls' basketball at Block Yeshiva High School in St. Louis. After six seasons in the high school ranks, Jackson earned her first collegiate head coach position when she was tabbed to guide the programs at St. Louis Community College – Forest Park in 1998. Her 1999-2000 team placed second in regionals.