MSU and Suzy Merchant hire new Director of Recruiting

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MSU head coach Suzy Merchant calls out directions to her team during a game/ Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications

Nathan Stearns, Sports Broadcast Director
August 23, 2021

EAST LANSING— The Michigan State women’s basketball team has a new Director of Recruiting.

On Monday, head coach Suzy Merchant announced the hiring of Candice M. Jackson, an MSU alum, as the newest Director of Recruiting for the women’s basketball team.

“We are thrilled to welcome Candice back to the Spartan family in an official capacity. She brings a wealth of experience in her new role as Director of Recruiting,” Merchant said. “She has established herself as a well-respected recruiter and contributor in our profession. Her connections, recruitment of student-athletes in multiple regions of the country, past recruiting coordinator roles, head coaching experience as well as her engaging personality will serve us well in this new role on staff.  We are thrilled to welcome Candice back home.”

In her new role, Jackson will directly oversee the entire recruiting program, including organizing recruiting visits and travel.

MSU head coach Suzy Merchant conducts 2021 summer practice/ Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications

“Being back at Michigan State is a full circle moment. There is something special about working for your alma mater and the program that had such an important role in shaping my career. Michigan State is a very special place, and as a Spartan we bleed green. Thank you to Coach Merchant for welcoming me home, and I cannot wait to get started,” Jackson said.

Jackson, who graduated from Michigan State in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Family Community Service, played basketball at Lansing Everett High School before playing under former head coach Joanne P. McCallie at MSU from 2000-04. Jackson was also a team captain as a junior and senior and helped lead the Spartans to two consecutive NCAA Tournament berths in 2003 and 2004.

In addition, she helped to lay the groundwork as a graduate assistant in 2004-05 for a Spartan squad that would advance to the NCAA championship game that same year, the only time that has been accomplished in program history.

After graduating, Jackson served as an assistant coach at Richmond, Wake Forest, Duke and most recently, Buffalo. She was also the head coach at the University of Charleston from 2014-19.