Softball: Loudoun County Selects Former Washington Glory Pro Amber Jackson to Lead Raiders

Leesburg (Dec. 4, 2009) - Loudoun County High School has hired former Washington Glory professional softball player Amber Jackson to replace Ryan Vance, who has stepped down after three seasons as LC's varsity head coach.

Jackson, a three-time All-American at Bethune-Cookman before finishing up as an All-ACC player at Maryland, was named the 2007 National Pro Fastpicth Player of the Year after she led the league in home runs (15) and RBIs (38), while helping the Glory to the league championship. She almost took the Triple Crown as she had a .372 hitting average that season.

The Glory folded its operations after the 2008 season.

This will be Jackson's first head coaching experience.

The shortstop was selected in the second round in the 2007 draft by the expansion Glory.


"It is surreal to be offered the oppurtunity to play at the professional level," Jackson said on draft day.

Jackson and her sister Sarde Stewart both left Bethune-Cookman to follow coach Laura Watten, who took over the Terps program. Jackson was a three-time All-American with Bethune-Cookman, where she had a career batting average of .465, and recorded 175 RBIs, 34 home runs and 74 stolen bases during her career with the Wildcats. In 2003, she led the nation with a .493 average.

"She's coming from a very strong and well run Laura Watten coached program and is an incredibly talented player who is gifted with great finesse, power and speed," said Glory owner Paul Wilson after the 2007 draft. "To top all if this off Amber is a fantastic person too."