Eastern Michigan Athletics
Women's Basketball
Kayla Jackson
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- kjack143@emich.edu
The 2026-27 season will mark the third as an Eastern Michigan University assistant coach for Kayla Jackson, who previously played under current EMU Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh at Canisius University.
In the 2025-26 campaign, Jackson proved instrumental to a bounce-back campaign where EMU improved by 11 wins from 2024-25, as it was one of the five most improved teams nationally by number of wins with its 13-16 (6-12 MAC) mark. The 11-win improvement matched the program's largest since it also improved by 11 wins in 2009-10.
Individually, Jackson played a large role in the training of All-MAC Second Team selection, Sisi Eleko, who earned her second consecutive All-MAC Second Team selection, becoming the first Eagle to earn All-MAC designation in consecutive seasons since Areanna Combs was named All-MAC Second Team in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns.
Eleko led the conference in rebounds per game (9.9) and set an EMU single-season record with a MAC-best 17 double-doubles, while ranking second in points per game (17.6). Eleko tied the career program record with 31 double-doubles as she concluded her EMU tenure with the highest rebounds per game average (10.0), highest defensive rebounds per game mark (7.4), and ranks fourth in career points per game (17.7). Hays mentored Eleko the last two seasons of her collegiate tenure, where she scored over 1,500 points (1,735), ranking inside the top 35 among active student-athletes, and grabbed 1,053 rebounds, the 12th most as of March 2026.
The 2024-25 campaign was highlighted by Eleko, who earned All-MAC Second Team honors after leading the conference in double-doubles with 14 while also pacing the MAC in rebounds per game (10.1), and ranking second with 17.9 points per game. Additionally, Eleko was the only MAC player to average a double-double.
Eleko also earned MAC Player of the Week recognition, Dec. 3, after averaging 27 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while leading the Eagles’ to their first win in the Nusseibeh era, a 72-60 victory over Xavier University, Dec. 1.
On the national level, Eleko finished the regular season ranked 21st in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game (7.3), 23rd in rebounds per game (10.1), 26th in double-doubles (14), and 45th in total rebounds (283). With those numbers, she ranks 23rd in rebounds per game (8.81) for a career among active players in the NCAA while ranking 29th in double-doubles with 34. She also is one of only 167 players to have scored 1,000 points and pulled down 600 rebounds in a career that is currently playing.
Eleko finished her first season in Ypsilanti with 500 points and 283 rebounds, both of which held historical significance. Her 500 points made her just the 13th player in program history to score 500+ points in a season while making her the fifth to do so in her junior campaign. Additionally, the 283 rebounds ranked third on the program's single-season list with only Felicia Hines (1984-85) and Suzanne Huff (1980-81) posting more with 292 and 286, respectively. Her season averages of 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds made her just the third player to average a double-double in a season for the Eagles.
Entering her second season as an assistant coach, Jackson previously gained experience with stops at St. Bonaventure University and the University of Evansville. She began her post-collegiate days with the Purple Aces as a graduate assistant during the 2022-23 season before taking on the role of Director of Basketball Operations for the Bonnies in 2023-24.
As a student-athlete, Jackson spent five seasons as a player at the Division I level, starting her playing career at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) where she appeared in 26 games as a freshman, but missed all her sophomore campaign due to an injury. Jackson went on to finish her playing career at Canisius University, spending two seasons with the Golden Griffins and playing under Nusseibeh. During her time in Buffalo, Jackson started 27-of-31 games, including all five in Canisius’ pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.
As a senior in 2021-22, Jackson started 22-of-26 contests while leading the Griffs and ranking 11th in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in rebounding, pulling down 6.6 boards per game. She grabbed 172 total rebounds, including 10 or more in seven contests. Off the court, Jackson was selected to the 2022 MAAC All-Academic Team.
Jackson served as the women’s basketball team captain as a senior, while also serving as a member of the Canisius Leadership Academy and a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative. She was named the Canisius College “Student-Athlete of the Month” in February 2021 for her dedication and leadership both on and off the court, while maintaining a high academic standing.
Prior to her collegiate career, Jackson was a standout at Aquinas Institute in Rochester, N.Y., helping the team win a sectional title during her career. She was named sectional MVP and team MVP, surpassing the 1,000-point mark as a sophomore.
In the 2025-26 campaign, Jackson proved instrumental to a bounce-back campaign where EMU improved by 11 wins from 2024-25, as it was one of the five most improved teams nationally by number of wins with its 13-16 (6-12 MAC) mark. The 11-win improvement matched the program's largest since it also improved by 11 wins in 2009-10.
Individually, Jackson played a large role in the training of All-MAC Second Team selection, Sisi Eleko, who earned her second consecutive All-MAC Second Team selection, becoming the first Eagle to earn All-MAC designation in consecutive seasons since Areanna Combs was named All-MAC Second Team in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns.
Eleko led the conference in rebounds per game (9.9) and set an EMU single-season record with a MAC-best 17 double-doubles, while ranking second in points per game (17.6). Eleko tied the career program record with 31 double-doubles as she concluded her EMU tenure with the highest rebounds per game average (10.0), highest defensive rebounds per game mark (7.4), and ranks fourth in career points per game (17.7). Hays mentored Eleko the last two seasons of her collegiate tenure, where she scored over 1,500 points (1,735), ranking inside the top 35 among active student-athletes, and grabbed 1,053 rebounds, the 12th most as of March 2026.
The 2024-25 campaign was highlighted by Eleko, who earned All-MAC Second Team honors after leading the conference in double-doubles with 14 while also pacing the MAC in rebounds per game (10.1), and ranking second with 17.9 points per game. Additionally, Eleko was the only MAC player to average a double-double.
Eleko also earned MAC Player of the Week recognition, Dec. 3, after averaging 27 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while leading the Eagles’ to their first win in the Nusseibeh era, a 72-60 victory over Xavier University, Dec. 1.
On the national level, Eleko finished the regular season ranked 21st in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game (7.3), 23rd in rebounds per game (10.1), 26th in double-doubles (14), and 45th in total rebounds (283). With those numbers, she ranks 23rd in rebounds per game (8.81) for a career among active players in the NCAA while ranking 29th in double-doubles with 34. She also is one of only 167 players to have scored 1,000 points and pulled down 600 rebounds in a career that is currently playing.
Eleko finished her first season in Ypsilanti with 500 points and 283 rebounds, both of which held historical significance. Her 500 points made her just the 13th player in program history to score 500+ points in a season while making her the fifth to do so in her junior campaign. Additionally, the 283 rebounds ranked third on the program's single-season list with only Felicia Hines (1984-85) and Suzanne Huff (1980-81) posting more with 292 and 286, respectively. Her season averages of 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds made her just the third player to average a double-double in a season for the Eagles.
Entering her second season as an assistant coach, Jackson previously gained experience with stops at St. Bonaventure University and the University of Evansville. She began her post-collegiate days with the Purple Aces as a graduate assistant during the 2022-23 season before taking on the role of Director of Basketball Operations for the Bonnies in 2023-24.
As a student-athlete, Jackson spent five seasons as a player at the Division I level, starting her playing career at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) where she appeared in 26 games as a freshman, but missed all her sophomore campaign due to an injury. Jackson went on to finish her playing career at Canisius University, spending two seasons with the Golden Griffins and playing under Nusseibeh. During her time in Buffalo, Jackson started 27-of-31 games, including all five in Canisius’ pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.
As a senior in 2021-22, Jackson started 22-of-26 contests while leading the Griffs and ranking 11th in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in rebounding, pulling down 6.6 boards per game. She grabbed 172 total rebounds, including 10 or more in seven contests. Off the court, Jackson was selected to the 2022 MAAC All-Academic Team.
Jackson served as the women’s basketball team captain as a senior, while also serving as a member of the Canisius Leadership Academy and a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative. She was named the Canisius College “Student-Athlete of the Month” in February 2021 for her dedication and leadership both on and off the court, while maintaining a high academic standing.
Prior to her collegiate career, Jackson was a standout at Aquinas Institute in Rochester, N.Y., helping the team win a sectional title during her career. She was named sectional MVP and team MVP, surpassing the 1,000-point mark as a sophomore.
Sunday, July 19
Friday, July 17
Thursday, July 16
Monday, July 13
