On the heels of advancing to their first NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament appearance in school history, Grambling State head coach Donte’ Jackson was asked by a reporter how it felt to prove the program could win Southwestern Athletic Conference championships on the court.

Jackson provided an interesting answer.

“This is three regular season titles and one tournament title in seven years. I think we’re a basketball school,” Jackson said. “Coach Rob [Eddie Robinson] is Coach Rob. I love him, it’s a great legacy he created, but right now, the proof is in the pudding.”

Our moment.#GramFam | #ThisIsTheG🐯 pic.twitter.com/jXH3jpfs11

— Grambling State Men’s Basketball (@gsutigers_mbb) March 17, 2024

Since Jackson’s arrival at the beginning of the 2017-18 season, the Tigers have finished lower than fourth place in the SWAC just once and even then (2021-22), they made it to the conference semifinals. After losing to Texas Southern in last year’s SWAC title game, Grambling got their revenge with a 72-65 win over the Tigers last night to win the conference title.

“As long I’m here, we’re going to get players, coach them up the right way and try to build up our legacy the way Coach [Frederick] Hobdy did.”

Jackson went on to say that “Coach Hobdy was winning championships the same time as Coach Rob did, so it was more than a football school then. We’re both.”