Vanderbilt University’s defensive backs coach will “step back from his responsibilities” following comments he posted online expressing support for Kanye West.
Dan Jackson apologized Friday for defending the rapper who has seen numerous professional partners distance themselves from him in the past month as a result of his ongoing antisemitic remarks. But that didn’t stop the Nashville school’s athletic director Candice Story Lee from going on offense Monday night with a statement announcing that an internal review of the situation was being punted to the school’s department for Equal Opportunity and Access.
“Coach Jackson and I have agreed that he will step back from his responsibilities with the team during the Equal Opportunity and Access office’s review,” Lee wrote.
According to the university’s newspaper, the Vanderbilt Hustler, Jackson said last week on Facebook that “Kanye is two steps ahead of everyone” and stated “More people need to wake up and speak their mind.”
Jackson “sincerely” apologized for his comments before his 3-6 team lost at home to the South Carolina Gamecocks Saturday. He claimed his comments were carelessly presented without context and denounced antisemitism.
The university responded to that apology by stating it was “aware of concerns” caused by its coach’s conduct and said the matter would be dealt with internally. The Twitter account Stop Antisemitism first blew the whistle on Jackson by posting a screenshot of Jackson’s comments.
The Vanderbilt Commodores head to Lexington, Ky., this weekend to play the heavily favored University of Kentucky Wildcats. It’s unclear if Jackson will travel with the team.
Vanderbilt’s defense has been one of the worst in college football this season despite the presence of defensive back Jaylen Mahoney, who is finishing up a stellar college career in central Tennessee.
