Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics

Michelle Bento-Jackson begins her sixth season as Head Coach of the Cal Poly Humboldt women’s basketball program.

Under Bento-Jackson’s leadership, the Lumberjacks have gone 61-53 including three consecutive winning seasons. Prior to the pandemic year in 2020-21, the Lumberjacks went 15-13 and produced four All-CCAA honorees including an All-American in Alexia Thrower.  During the pandemic year, the Lumberjacks achieved the Athletics Department's Highest Term Grade Point Average in the department's history.  The 'Jacks also headed the Race for Change community service project.

During the 2018-19 season, the Lumberjacks went 19-8  as they finished third in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Despite a disappointing loss in the first round of the CCAA Tournament, Humboldt earned an at-large bid and made its second consecutive NCAA West Regionals appearance. Three members of the 2018-19 squad were recognized as First Team All-CCAA selections including Isamar Conde, Tyra Turner, and the CCAA Newcomer of the Year and All-Region selection Alexia Thrower.

The Green and Gold won the 2018 CCAA Tournament title and punched their ticket to the NCAA West Regionals. Humboldt defeated regional host Azusa Pacific before falling to Alaska Anchorage. Bento-Jackson’s team finished the year with a 19-13 overall record.

In her first three seasons leading the program, Bento-Jackson energized the roster and rebuilt it to compete in one of the nation’s most competitive conferences.  She is the program's third winningest coach.  Her all-time record in her 14 seasons is 216-188.

Bento-Jackson came to the North Coast following a four-year run at Texas A&M International, during which she captured the program's first Heartland Conference championship. Prior to Texas A&M International, she served as the director of the MBJ Basketball and Player Development program.

As the head coach of the Dustdevils, Bento-Jackson compiled a 57-50 record, including winning over 60 percent of her conference games. Bento-Jackson’s 2013-14 campaign produced a program-best 19-9 record en route to the team's first Heartland Conference regular season championship (15-5) and its historic first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II tournament at-large bid.

Prior to joining Texas A&M International, Bento-Jackson served as the director of the MBJ Basketball and Player Development program. She worked with both females and males.  Her program primarily focused on player development and the mentoring of student-athletes in recruiting and in developing to be the best player they can be.

The remainder of Bento-Jackson’s collegiate coaching career was with NCAA Division I universities. Bento-Jackson spent six seasons as head coach at Santa Clara University, just 324 miles south of Humboldt State’s campus. While at Santa Clara, Bento-Jackson led the program to three postseason berths and a 98-85 overall record. She guided the Broncos to West Coast Conference Tournament and Regular Season Championships in 2004-05 and 2005-06, respectively, and was named the WCC Coach of the Year following the 2005-06 campaign.

Bento-Jackson joined the Broncos after a four-year stint as an assistant coach at Syracuse from 1998-2002 where she served as recruiting coordinator, worked with perimeter players and coordinated opponent scouting. During her time with the Orange, Bento-Jackson coached two perimeter players who were invited to the WNBA pre-draft camp and one player who was invited to the USA Junior World Championship trials.

She graduated from Fresno State in 1992 with a degree in Physical Education and spent two seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater (1996-97 and 1997-98).  While with the Bulldogs, she coached perimeter players, served as scouting coordinator, directed the strength and conditioning program and supervised academic progress.

Prior to returning to coaching at her alma mater, Bento-Jackson spent one season as a graduate assistant and two seasons as a full-time assistant at San Jose State University. Bento-Jackson also served as the head girls' varsity softball coach at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, Calif., in 1994.

Michelle and her husband, Al Jackson, reside in Arcata with their son, Brandon Bento-Jackson.