What Clark Lea said about Vanderbilt investigation of assistant Dan Jackson
Vanderbilt football coach Clark Lea confirmed Tuesday that defensive backs coach Dan Jackson is under investigation by the university for a Facebook comment defending Kanye West and would step away from the program until the inquiry was complete.
Defensive coordinator Nick Howell will coach cornerbacks in the interim while graduate assistant Jimmy Thompson will also be elevated to the staff as the Commodores (3-6, 0-5 SEC) prepare to face Kentucky (6-3, 3-3) on Saturday (11 a.m. CT, SEC Network) at Kroger Field.
"Dan's agreed to step away for the moment as we undergo an internal review through the Equal Opportunity and Access office," Lea said. "This is a part of the university's process for addressing reports of discrimination and they're going to conduct a thorough review to further understand the context. ... (Athletics director Candice Lee and chancellor Daniel Diermeier) agreed that it was best for him to step away right now to focus on the review."
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Jimmy Thompson, an assistant on Howell's defensive staff, has been elevated to an on-field coaching role during Jackson's absence.
Lea said the players largely supported Jackson and that the practice Tuesday felt normal despite the potential for distraction.
Candice Lee said in a statement Monday night that Jackson would be stepping back from his responsibilities as defensive backs coach as the matter was investigated by the Equal Opportunity and Access Office.
On Friday, a Facebook comment made by Jackson came to light that defended Kanye West for being "two steps ahead of anyone else." Jackson's comment came amid a firestorm of scrutiny created by West for making antisemitic statements and elevating antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Jackson coached against South Carolina on Saturday after releasing an apology statement. At that time, Lea declined to comment on why Jackson coached in the game.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What Clark Lea said about Vanderbilt investigation of assistant Dan Jackson
