South Alabama women's golf benefits from the knowledge its head coach has gained from experience in the college and professional game. T.J. Jackson, heading into his ninth season as head coach of the Jags, graduated from the collegiate ranks as a Jaguar and Sun Belt Conference Champion in 1987, and played professionally from 1989-94.
“Patience is a key aspect of golf and coaching. The girls all have different personalities and trying to figure out what works best for each individual to benefit the team is the most important part. We try to identify each player’s strengths and weaknesses and then we structure our practices accordingly.”
Jackson returned to South Alabama in the summer of 2000 and has seen the last four years blossom for the women’s program. The team tournament average has dropped 21 strokes over that period and last year included five team victories and three all-Sun Belt Conference members. Along with success on the course the Lady Jags have posted high GPAs in the classroom. The 05-06 team finished third in the nation with a team GPA of 3.65 and had three members named to the NGCA All-American Scholar team. The 06-07 team improved their GPA even more finishing first in the nation with a 3.799 and six Lady Jags had GPA's over 3.5, being were named to the Sun Belt Commisioner's list.
“The girls have put forth the effort in the classroom and we structure our practices around their class schedules to allow them to succeed on the course as well. Their effort in the classroom and the course has paid off over the last couple of years.”
Before coaching at South Alabama, Jackson's professional career spanned five years from which he garnered a wealth of knowledge. Over his career, he had six top 10 finishes, including a career-best sixth place finish, all on the tour now know as the NGA Hooters Tour.
"My game has changed so much through the years because I relied mostly on feel growing up," Jackson said. "As I entered a professional career, I began to understand more about technique and the importance of a proper swing. My challenge now is to communicate to our team what I've learned so that they can continue to improve."
As a Jaguar in college, Jackson brought the men’s program its first individual conference championship in 1987. He played the 1986-87 season for USA after transferring from Spring Hill College where he lettered for one season. Jackson played his first two years of collegiate golf at Kentucky.
His high school career spanned four years at Davidson High School in Mobile where he teamed with Greg Jones, future USA teammate and head men's coach of the program from 1993-99. Jackson and Jones helped the school win a state title in 1982. Jackson won the state individual title in 1981 and 1982.
Jackson graduated with a degree in English from South Alabama in 1989. He is married to the former Juliana Millette of Pascagoula, Miss. They have three children, Jordan (17), and twin boys Luke (3) and Lane (3).
