PITTSBURGH, March 28, 2007 – It has been three full years since Jaren Jackson last roamed the sidelines as an assistant coach at his alma mater, but the 1989 Georgetown University graduate has sat back and smiled while watching the team's 2007 NCAA Tournament run knowing that he played an instrumental role in laying the foundation for the Hoyas first Big East Tournament title since his playing days and first trip to the Final Four since 1985.

Jackson, who spent 12 seasons in the NBA and won a World Championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999, got his coaching start in 2003-04 at GU under former coach Craig Esherick.

Just two players, seniors Kenny Izzo and Sead Dizderavic, remain from that 03-04 club, which finished 13-15, but Jackson was active in recruiting the Hoyas' highly-regarded junior class, which features big men Patrick Ewing, Jr. and Roy Hibbert; guards Jonathan Wallace and Tyler Crawford, and is headlined by All-American and Big East Player of the Year Jeff Green.

The 2006 Continental Basketball Association Coach of the Year with the Gary Steelheads and current head coach of the CBA's Pittsburgh Xplosion, Jackson played a significant role during the recruiting process in keeping the 6-foot-8-inch Green, a Hyattsville, Md. native, close to home by committing to the Hoyas.

Georgetown faces Ohio State in the NCAA Division I National Semifinals on Saturday, March 31 at 6:00 PM at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.