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Albert Anderson " Jumbo" Jacks (February 26, 1935 – February 16, 2023) was an American professor and college football coach. He played as a quarterback at Penn State University from 1956 to 1958. Jacks spent 19 years as the head football coach at Clarion State College from 1963 to 1981. He very briefly held the same position at Williams College. Jacks is the winningest Clarion football coach by winning percentage. He was also an associate professor of health and physical education at Clarion from 1963 to 1996.
In January 1971, Jacks accepted the head coaching job at Williams College, Al Jacks to Coach Williams, The New York Times, January 29, 1971. but held the position for only five days. He later said, "There was a whole different atmosphere, they didn't approach football the way we did at ... There have been other jobs I looked into, but none were better than I had here." Jack returned to Clarion for the following season. Sports Illustrated stated Jacks "faced his biggest rebuilding task in 18 years as coach" in 1980, Small Colleges, Sports Illustrated, September 1, 1980. but that season, he led the team to the Pennsylvania Conference championship. For the performance, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) named it the Team of the Year.
In 1981, Jacks stepped down as head coach, but remained on the staff as an assistant coach to Charley Ruslavage, his own former assistant, and an associate professor at the school. Jacks Removes A Weight By Giving Up Clarion Job, The Pittsburgh Press, December 27, 1981. He cited time spent away from his family and the demands of the job. At the time of his resignation at the age of 46, he had 18 consecutive winning seasons. During his tenure, Clarion amassed a 128–46–5 record, three Pennsylvania Conference championships, and six Pennsylvania Conference Western Division championships. By winning percentage, Jacks is the most successful Clarion football coach in school history at .729. He held the position of chairman of health and physical education department until retiring in 1996. Jacks distinguishes himself with service, Clarion University, retrieved December 3, 2010.
He died on February 16, 2023, at the age of 87.
Personal life
Jacks and his wife Karen had three sons. Clarion University of Pennsylvania established the Al & Karen Jacks Football Scholarship in honor of Jacks and his late wife and to provide scholarships to eligible athletes. Athletic Scholarships, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, retrieved December 3, 2010. He was inducted into the Clarion University Sports Hall of Fame in the inaugural 1989 class. Hall of Fame, Clarion University, retrieved December 3, 2010.
Categories: 1935 Births, 2023 Deaths, Penn State Nittany Lions Football Players, American Football Quarterbacks, Clarion Golden Eagles Football Coaches, Williams Ephs Football Coaches, Slippery Rock University Alumni, University Of Michigan Alumni, Players Of American Football From Pittsburgh, Educators From Pennsylvania, People From Clarion, Pennsylvania
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