He played college basketball as a guard for the West Liberty State Hilltoppers and was a three-time All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) selection.

[1][2] He also played baseball and golf for the Hilltoppers and was the only athlete to be named to the All-WVIAC team in three sports.

[1] He was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1952 NBA draft but he enlisted into the United States Army for the Korean War.

[1] Ackerman returned to West Liberty in 1954 to continue his athletic career and was named to the All-WVIAC basketball teams in 1955 and 1956.

[1] Ackerman served as head coach of the Hilltoppers men's basketball team from 1969 to 1975 and 1987 to 1992 and amassed a 101–200 record over eleven seasons.