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Former USC football assistant coach John Jackson dies at 81

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LOS ANGELES (AP) Former Southern California football assistant John Jackson has died at 81.

The university said Friday he died of complications following intestinal surgery Thursday in suburban Torrance.

Jackson coached star tailbacks Marcus Allen and Charles White during their Heisman Trophy-winning seasons. He was running backs coach from 1976-81 and also worked as offensive coordinator under coach John Robinson.

Jackson coached All-American tailback Ricky Bell as well as star fullbacks Lynn Cain and Mosi Tatupu. While Jackson was at USC, the Trojans won the Rose Bowl three times and were the 1978 national champions.

Jackson also coached at UNLV, Hofstra, Dartmouth and Illinois.

After leaving USC, he worked as a special assistant to Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss. He ran Forum Boxing and helped develop the Prime Ticket sports cable TV network, now Fox Sports West.

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