Coaches

James Frey
Head Coach – 11th season
Alma Mater:  Troy University
jfrey@southgatech.edu
229-931-2039

James Frey was named head women’s basketball coach on June 18, 2012. In his first year as the Lady Jets head coach they posted a 20 – 12 record and made it to the conference tournament final four.   The Lady Jets have earned a berth to the NJCAA National Tournament nine of the eleven years he has been at the helm .  The Lady Jets have compiled a 306-61 overall record and 164 – 22 conference record under Frey’s leadership.

Frey took the head position with 20 years of coaching experience, serving as a recruiter and assistant coach at College of Coastal Georgia.  During his time with the Mariners, the team won three regular season championships in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association and one tournament championship before leaving the league following the 2010 – 2011 season to start competing as a four-year program in the NAIA.

In addition to working with the Coastal Georgia men’s team, Frey was also the assistant coach for the Mariners women’s team which played its first season in 2011 – 2012. The team finished 19 – 10.

A graduate of Glynn Academy high school in Brunswick, Georgia, Frey earned his bachelor’s degree in Sports and Fitness Management from Troy University. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sports and Fitness Management from Troy University.

Frey and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Lindsey and Will.

Olivia Melvin
Assistant Coach – 1st Season
Alma Mater:  College of Coastal Georgia 
olivia.melvin@southgatech.edu
229-931-2545

Olivia Melvin joined the Lady Jets staff as an assistant coach on August 11, 2022. She begins her first year with the program after spending the previous four years as an assistant coach at her alma mater, College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick, Georgia. 

At Coastal Georgia, Melvin coached the teams guards, recruited, oversaw the programs academic progress, and assisted with fund raising. During her time on staff at Coastal Georgia, the Lady Mariners amassed a 66-46 overall record and a 42-29 conference record.

Melvin, is one of the most decorated players as a point guard in Coastal Georgia women’s basketball history. A two-time All-American, Melvin holds multiple career, season, and single-game records for the Lady Mariners. Melvin is the programs all-time leading scorer with 1,431 career points which is nearly 400 more than the program’s second-leading scorer. She tallied over 400 points in a season twice, including a season-record 541 points as a junior. Melvin also has four of the top five single-game points totals.

Among the other career records Melvin currently holds are field goals made (475), field goals attempted (1,393), 3-point field goals made (153), 3-point field goals attempted (551), free throws made (328), free throws attempted (447), assists (286), steals (232), games played (122), and games started (75).

Melvin was part of Coastal Georgia’s first four NAIA programs from 2011-12 to 2014-15. In her playing career, the Mariners amassed an 80-45 record, advanced to the NAIA National Tournament in their first eligible year (2012-13) and earned three straight Southern Athletic Conference Tournament berths. AS a freshman at Coastal Georgia in 2011-12, she played for then Coastal Georgia assistant coach and now Lady Jets Head Coach James  Frey.

Melvin earned her associate’s degree in mathematics in May 2015 and completed her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in mathematics in May 2022.

What they are saying about Coach Melvin:

Former College of Coastal Georgia and current West Virginia Tech Head Coach Roger Hodge

“I’m so happy for Olivia but also Coach Frey and South Georgia Tech. Even though South Georgia Tech has already experienced great success in women’s basketball, I think combining two people/coaches of this caliber can only make a great situation even better. I know how helpful Coach T (Melvin) was to me in building the program at Coastal Georgia and what an incredible impact she had on the players there. I expect her to do nothing less for the Lady Jets and I am very proud of her. I’m also thrilled that she has landed with such a great coach in James Frey. Olivia will have an opportunity to learn from one o the best and I’m sure that she will continue to grow with leaps and bounds under his tutelage. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish together.”

Former College of Coastal Georgia and current Florida Southern Head Coach Betsy Harris

“Olivia is a great addition to the Jet family. She is a proven winner and relates well with players. AS a player she was tough as nails and never backed down when challenged. Her experience and competitiveness will blend in well at SGTC.”

Ricka “Maka” Jackson
Adjunct Instructor/Assistant Coach – 1st Season
Alma Mater:  South Georgia Tech/Texas Tech University
ricka.jackson@southgatech.edu
229-931-2545

Former South Georgia Tech Ricka “Maka” Jackson returns to her alma mater this year as an adjunct instructor and will also be helping as an assistant coach on James Frey’s staff. Jackson joined the staff on July 11, 2022.

Jackson starred for the Lady Jets from 2017-19, was an All-Conference performer both years and was named the conference tournament MVP in her sophomore year. Jackson also helped the lady Jets to a 59-10 overall record in her two seasons. The Lady Jets amassed two conference championships and two national tournament appearances during Jackson’s time in Americus.

Jackson’s sophomore year she helped the Lady Jets tie a single season school record with 30 wins. She averaged 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.5 assists per game that season and shot 40% from the 3-point line. The 2018-19 Lady Jets had a remarkable four players selected to the ten person all-conference team including Jackson. She was also ranked the #15 JUCO player in the country after her sophomore season.

Upon graduating from South Georgia Tech, Jackson continued her academic and playing careers at Texas Tech University (Big 12 Conference) in Lubbock, Texas. During her time at Texas Tech they amassed a 29-26 record. After graduating from Texas Tech in 2021, Jackson transferred to the University of Utah in the Pac 10 conference where she played her grad transfer year and began working on her Master’s Degree in psychology. At Utah they were 21-12 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament where they upset 10th ranked Arkansas in the first round before falling to the University of Texas.

Jackson earned her Associates Degree in Sports and Fitness Management in May of 2019 from South Georgia Tech and her Bachelors Degree in University Studies with a concentration in Organizational Leadership and Human Services in July of 2021 from Texas Tech University.

What they are saying about Coach Jackson:

Former Texas Tech Assistant Coach and current Louisiana Monroe Assistant Larry Tidwell

“Without a doubt, Maka Jackson was a WINNER. Her passion, knowledge, and work ethic are second to none and that has a lot to do with her time as a player at South Georgia Tech. I think her familiarity with Coach Frey and the way he coaches make her a perfect choice for this position. Great hire for the Lady Jets.”

Former University of Utah Assistant Coach and current University of West Georgia Head Coach Joanna Reitz

“Maka was the type of player and person every team needs. She’s selfless, brings great energy to a team, and helps the team any way she can. No doubt she will be an asset to Coach Frey and his staff and I believe she’s a future star in the coaching profession and I can’t wait to cheer her and her team on.”