Jackson Academy announced this week that the school has hired Brookhaven Academy graduate Corey Dickerson as its new head baseball coach.

The job is the first coaching position for Dickerson, who appeared in 50 games last year for the Washington Nationals.

An outfielder, Dickerson made his MLB debut in 2013 with the Colorado Rockies. Over his 11-season career, Dickerson also suited up for the Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals.

Dickerson is replacing Parker Harris, as JA went 13-20-1 in 2024. Tyler Parvin, who played at Brookhaven Academy with Dickerson and was the head coach for the Cougars to start his career, has been on the staff at JA under Harris and will coach baseball and softball next year at Madison-Ridgeland Academy as an assistant coach.

“Joy is only found through service to others,” wrote Dickerson in a social media post about his new job. “Thankful for the opportunity to learn every child’s soul and be part in their development.”

At Brookhaven Academy, Dickerson was a three-sport star, playing football, basketball and baseball.

He hit 45 career home runs while suiting up for the Cougars and then coach Stephen Cooksey. Dickerson finished with a career .591 batting average as he hit 15 home runs and drove in 55 runs as a senior in 2008.

Dickerson signed to play at Meridian Community College, where he was an NJCAA All-American and signed a letter-of-intent with Mississippi State as a sophomore.
The Colorado Rockies drafted Dickerson in the eighth round of the 2010 draft and Dickerson signed with the club and reached the major leagues in just three years. Colorado had also drafted Dickerson in the 29th round of the 2009 draft.

In 2017, he was voted an MLB All-Star as a leadoff batter and designated hitter for Tampa Bay.
Playing for Pittsburg in 2018, Dickerson moved back to the outfield and won a Gold Glove Award after finishing with a .996 fielding percentage in left field.

Long lauded for his smooth swing at the plate, Dickerson finished his MLB career with 1,028 hits, 136 home runs, 469 RBIs and a .280 batting average.