Sonny Jackson (American football)

William "Sonny" Jackson (September 24, 1938 – July 10, 2021) was an American college football coach. He served as the head football coach at Nicholls State University from 1981 to 1986 and at McNeese State University from 1987 to 1989.

Sonny Jackson
Biographical details
Born(1938-09-24)September 24, 1938
DiedJuly 10, 2021(2021-07-10) (aged 82)
Alma materNicholls State University
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1979–1980Northeast Louisiana (assistant)
1981–1986Nicholls State
1987–1989McNeese State
Head coaching record
Overall52–48–1 (college)
Tournaments1–1 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Gulf Star (1984)

Coaching career

High School career

Prior to his college coaching career, Jackson was an assistant coach and later head football coach at St. Joseph Benedictine High School in Chauvin, Louisiana.[1] He was also head coach at Central High School in Central, Louisiana.[1]

College career

Jackson was an assistant coach at Northeast Louisiana University for two seasons from 1979 to 1980.[1] In 1981, Jackson was hired for his first college head coaching position at his alma mater, Nicholls State University.[1][2] He coached the Colonels for six seasons through 1986 and compiled a record of 39 wins, 28 losses and 1 tie.[3][4] In 1986, he guided Nicholls State to its first appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs and led the team to their first playoff win.[5]

From 1987 to 1989, Jackson was head football coach at McNeese State University and compiled a record of 13–20.[6][7] He had a career college football coaching record of 52 wins, 48 losses and 1 tie in his nine seasons as a head coach.

Personal life

Jackson was a 1963 graduate of Nicholls State University.[1] His son, Hud Jackson, is also a college football head coach.[8]

He died on July 10, 2021.[9]

Head coaching record

College
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Nicholls State Colonels (NCAA Division I-AA independent) (1981–1983)
1981 Nicholls State 5–5–1
1982 Nicholls State 7–4
1983 Nicholls State 5–6
Nicholls State Colonels (Gulf Star Conference) (1984–1986)
1984 Nicholls State 6–54–1T–1st
1985 Nicholls State 6–52–3T–3rd
1986 Nicholls State 10–32–2T–2ndL NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal
Nicholls State: 39–28–18–6
McNeese State Cowboys (Southland Conference) (1987–1989)
1987 McNeese State 2–91–5T–6th
1988 McNeese State 6–53–34th
1989 McNeese State 5–62–4T–5th
McNeese State: 13–206–12
Total:52–48–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References
  1. "All-Time Records" (PDF). geauxcolonels.com. p. 69. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  2. "Coaching Records" (PDF). southland.org. p. 49. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  3. "Nicholls State University Directory". sportsnetwork.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  4. "Nicholls State Colonels". totalfootballstats.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  5. "Year-by-Year Division I Championship Results" (PDF). ncaa.org. p. 7. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  6. "Cowboy will begin 68th season of football at McNeese this week". mcneesesports.com. August 29, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  7. "All Time Results". issuu.com. p. 55. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  8. "UAM Hires UCA's Jackson To Lead Program". katv.com. September 11, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  9. Singleton, Chris (11 July 2021). "Sonny Jackson, Nicholls' winningest football coach, dies at age 82". The Houma Courier. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
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