ARCATA, Calif. – Humboldt State University has hired Michelle Bento-Jackson as head women’s basketball coach, athletic director Dan Collen announced Friday. Bento-Jackson becomes the 11th Lumberjack women’s basketball coach in program history.

“I am proud to announce the hiring of Michelle Bento-Jackson,” said Collen. “She will be a great addition to our staff. She is an experienced coach who has won at all levels and has a great understanding of the game of basketball. She is going to bring an exciting brand of basketball to Humboldt State, and she will follow in the footsteps of the other outstanding coaches we have hired.”

Bento-Jackson comes to the North Coast after a four-year run at Texas A&M International, during which she captured the program’s first Heartland Conference championship. Prior to Texas A&M International, she served as the director of the MBJ Basketball and Player Development program.

"I am extremely excited and honored to be the head women's basketball coach at Humboldt State University,” said Bento-Jackson. “I want to thank Dr. Rossbacher, Dan Collen, the administration and the committee for believing in me and for giving me the opportunity to lead their women's basketball program. I learned quickly that HSU is a unique place, and my family and I are looking forward to being a part of the university and a special community. Coach Gleason did an outstanding job, and the foundation has been laid. I am looking forward to building on the past successes and working extremely hard to continue to elevate the program. There is tremendous potential at Humboldt State, and I can't wait to get to work."

She has more than 20 years of basketball coaching experience, including six seasons as head coach at Division I Santa Clara. While at Santa Clara, Bento-Jackson led the program to three postseason berths and a 98-85 overall record. She guided the Broncos to West Coast Conference Tournament and Regular Season Championships in 2004-05 and 2005-06, respectively, and was named the WCC Coach of the Year following the 2005-06 campaign.

Bento-Jackson joined the Broncos after a four-year stint as an assistant coach at Syracuse from 1998-2002 where she served as recruiting coordinator, worked with perimeter players and coordinated opponent scouting. During her time with the Orange, Bento-Jackson coached two perimeter players who were invited to the WNBA pre-draft camp and one player who was invited to the USA Junior World Championship trials.

She graduated from Fresno State in 1992 with a degree in physical education and spent two seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater (1996-97 and 1997-98).  While with the Bulldogs, she coached perimeter players, served as scouting coordinator, directed the strength and conditioning program and supervised academic progress.

As a player, Bento-Jackson helped Fresno State basketball to an NIT appearance in 1990 and earned team captain and MVP honors in 1991. She also played on the Bulldogs softball team and was named to the College World Series All-Tournament squad in 1992.

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