Jim Bob Jackson
Hometown: Killeen, TX
Sport: Men's Golf
Years Played:
Hall of Honor Induction: 2003Jim Bob Jackson begins his sixth year as head men’s golf coach at North Texas.
In his first five seasons at North Texas, Jackson has led the Mean Green to the 2003 Sun Belt Conference Championship, the conference runner-ups in 2004 and 2006, coached seven all-conference performers and was named the 2003 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.
Last season, Jackson rallied the Mean Green from a ten-shot deficit in the final round to force a three-way playoff for the Sun Belt Conference Championship.
Jackson coached Zach Atkinson, who advanced to 2004 NCAA Central Regional. In 2003, Atkinson and Brad Gibson both qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship. Atkinson advanced to the round of 16 in the nation’s most prestigious amateur event.
In Jackson’s five years as head coach, North Texas has claimed 24 top-five finishes as a team, including four tournament victories.
Prior to coming to North Texas, Jackson spent 13 seasons as head men’s and women’s golf coach at Southwest Texas State University. Jackson led the Bobcats to three Southland Conference titles and was twice named Southland Conference Coach of the Year. His teams finished in the top three in the Southland Conference six different years.
The Killeen, Texas native graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1988 with a degree in Education and was then hired as the school’s golf coach. Along with his duties as head coach at SWTS, Jackson has been Director of the NCAA Central Regional Golf Championship, Director of the U.I.L. Region IV Golf Tournament, Co Chairman of the SWT Celebrity Golf Classic, Chairman of the NCAA District VI Advisory Committee and Manager of the SWT Golf Course.
Jackson has an outstanding history as a collegiate player. Jackson was named JUCO Regional Medalist, JUCO All-American Honorable Mention and first-team all-conference in 1983 while attending Temple Junior College. After transferring to Southwest Texas State, Jackson was named 1984 first-team All Lone Star Conference, 1984 NCAA II All America Honorable Mention and 1985 second-team All Gulf Star Conference. Jackson led his 1984 Bobcat team to a third-place finish at the NCAA Championship.
In 2003, Jackson was inducted into the Southwest Texas State Athletic Hall of Fame.
Jackson continues to play golf competively. In consecutive seasons Jackson made it through the U.S Open local qualifier. In May of 2005, he shot a 4-under par 68 in a U.S. Open local qualifier at Trophy Club Country Club to earn a spot in the sectional qualifier. Jackson finished tied for sixth place to earn an automatic place in the sectional qualifier.
Jackson is married to the former Lori Martin, and they have two children: daughter Kaley (14) and son Cade (10).