NEW YORK — Columbia Football and Columbia Athletics mourn the loss of first-year wide receiver
Jackson Coker, 18, who passed away in a tragic automobile accident early Wednesday morning in Austin, Texas. Due to the COVID pandemic, Coker was spending his second Columbia University semester attending virtual classes in his hometown.
"We are shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic passing of
Jackson Coker," Columbia's Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football
Al Bagnoli said. "Not only was he a talented student-athlete who excelled on and off the field, but someone who embodied the personal characteristics our program is built upon. He personified what great teammates are all about. They give great effort in everything they undertake, are extremely accountable in their actions and always put team first. That, in a nutshell was Jackson."
"Our entire football family grieves with his passing and our program extends our deepest sympathies to the Coker family."
A 2020 graduate of Westlake High School, Coker was a three-year varsity football letterman for Head Coach Todd Dodge. A First Team All-District selection as a senior in 2019, Coker earned Academic All-State honors and finished his three-year football career with 70 receptions for 1,298 yards and 20 touchdowns. As team captain, he led the Chaparrals to the Texas Class 6A state title, a 15-1 overall record, and 7-1 league record as a senior. He caught 28 passes for 437 yards and eight touchdowns, rushed 31 times for 225 yards and four touchdowns, and completed three passes for 56 yards as a senior. In addition, he helped guide the Chaparrals to district championships in both 2017 and 2018. Coker also competed in track and field and was heavily involved in a variety of volunteer activities in the community.
Coker chose Columbia stating that there was "no other place in the world that had the combination of education, location and level of football like Columbia does." He chose Columbia over offers from the seven other Ivy League schools.
Enrolled at Columbia College, he planned to major in Economics/Political Science with the goal to attend law school.
Coker is the son of Jon and Laura Coker and has two brothers Jake and Jared.
Services for Coker will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 21st at Riverbend Church, 4214 N Capital of Texas Hwy in Austin, Texas. After the service, Westlake High School will host a "16 Minutes of Light" video tribute on the WHS football field starting at 8:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to https://kgskids.com or a charity of your choosing in memory of Jackson."
