Milwaukee Lutheran’s Jackson suspended for 8 games

Milwaukee Lutheran boys' basketball coach Marcus Jackson has been suspended by the school for the first eight games of the 2025-26 season after holding an illegal open gym and practice during the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association's dead period for coaching contact this past summer.

Jackson and his coaching staff held an illegal practice at the school on August 15, which is past the WIAA's summer coaching contact period for boys' basketball.

In addition, a former assistant coach at the school invited a student/athlete from St. Francis High School to take part in the open gym and practice sessions. That student later enrolled at Milwaukee Lutheran. However, the former St. Francis student has been ruled ineligible by the WIAA and will not play for the Red Knights' varsity squad this season.

Milwaukee Lutheran self reported the infractions to the WIAA and had transparent conversations with Mel Dow of the WIAA throughout September.

Jackson, now in his eighth year at Milwaukee Lutheran, will not be allowed to attend practices or games from the opening of the season on November 17 until after the eighth game of the season on January 7.

In addition to the suspension of Jackson, Milwaukee Lutheran administrators have imposed the following penalties to its boys' basketball program:

** The varsity coaching staff will have no contact with the players in the program next summer from June 1 through August 15.

** The assistant coach who invited the student/athlete from St. Francis to the open gym and practice has been terminated and is no longer with the program.

** Milwaukee Lutheran put its boys' basketball program on probation for the next 12 months with a zero tolerance policy for all WIAA rules and regulations.

The WIAA has approved the sanctions of Milwaukee Lutheran's self report.

The following joint statement has been released from Mike Waugh, head of schools for Milwaukee Lutheran, and principal Dr. Wayne Jensen:

"Following our internal investigation, we immediately imposed corrective measures that the WIAA has reviewed and approved. Actions include termination of the assistant coach directly responsible, an eight-game suspension for the head coach, probation of the boys' basketball program for the 2025-26 school year, and new compliance protocols with enhanced oversight. We are thankful for the WIAA's guidance throughout this process, which has helped strengthen accountability measures for our athletic programs.

"Milwaukee Lutheran regrets that these violations occurred. We remain committed to integrity in every program, and when standards are not upheld, we will act decisively to ensure our athletics reflect the values of our school community."

Milwaukee Lutheran finished 14-12 a year ago and returns a very talented backcourt that includes senior Xavier Allen Xavier Allen 5'11" | PG Milwaukee Lutheran | 2026 State WI and junior James Ferguson James Ferguson 6'0" | CG Milwaukee Lutheran | 2027 State WI , both returning starters. The Red Knights compete in the Eastern Division of the Woodland Conference.