DeSean Jackson is one of the fastest-rising coaches in college football. However, he does not subscribe to the same schedule as some of his colleagues.
The former NFL wide receiver leaves his office around the same time every day and it is much earlier than you might think.
Some college football coaches work around the clock. Jackson takes a very different approach.
Delaware State is a legitimate program for the first time in decades.
DeSean Jackson is one of the best deep threats in NFL history but he is new to coaching. The 29-year-old started out as the offensive coordinator at Woodrow Wilson High School in California in 2024. Delaware State decided to hire him as head coach in December of that same year. It was a big swing for a program that had not won a lot of games in recent years.
The Hornets started winning right away.
Delaware State went a combined 38-113 from 2011-2024. It won two games in 2023 and 2024. Its last winning season was in 2012 at 6-5. Before that, it was 2007— almost 20 years ago.
Jackson took over as head coach last season. The Hornets went 8-4 to finish second in the MEAC. They even won non-conference games against Albany and St. Francis. There was no greater turnaround in college football in 2025.
2026 is off to an equally strong start. Delaware State sits at 2-1 with a heartbreaking seven-point loss at William & Mary in Week 2. It most recently ran for 224 yards in a 21-6 win over Bowie State in Week 2. A huge road test at USF awaits on Saturday.
Regardless of how things go against a rebuilt FBS program, there is no question that Jackson was a great hire. A team that was completely dead in the water as of two years ago is now competing for a conference title.
DeSean Jackson does not work crazy hours like other college football coaches.
I think most people would assume that a turnaround of this caliber requires countless hours of game-planning, practice and film. Not really.
Don’t get him wrong, DeSean Jackson will always do whatever it takes to get his team ready for battle. He is not going to run out of the tunnel unprepared. Nor is he going to overlook an opponent. Nor is he going to slack off on the job.
However, Jackson does not spend his nights (or afternoons) at the office. He is not pulling all-nighters or burning the midnight oil. He gets in, gets his work done and gets out.
The second-year head coach recently spoke about his daily schedule on Da Get Got Pod. He typically arrives to his office around 6:30 in the morning and typically leaves around 2:00 in the afternoon.
Having played in the NFL, Jackson does not want to get caught up in his job. I am sure he takes calls, watches film and completes various tasks once he gets home but it is extremely important for him to reset at the end of the day. How long you work does not reflect how hard you work. Working long hours does not mean you won’t get beat.
Considering the success of Delaware State over the last 20 months, DeSean Jackson’s approach to his hours is working!