Jackson didn ’ t have much money . He was down to $ 8 remaining in his bank account and a half a tank of gas . Feeling as though this was now or never , Jackson overdrafted his account to fill up his gas tank and buy himself food to make the two-hour drive to Kingsville .
“ I made it down there and back , and I told my daughter ’ s mom at the time , ‘ If I don ’ t go do this , I will never get into coaching ,’” Jackson said . “ I went and did it , got the job , and left the car with them . She had to finish school and graduate , and I went and got into coaching with room and board in Kingsville , Texas .”
Sixteen years later , Jackson is taking his second head coaching job in a place much different from Houston or Grand Junction , Colorado , where he spent two seasons as the head coach at Colorado Mesa .
His work with the Mavericks – a 10-3 record over two seasons , including an 8-2 mark in 2021 – caught the eye of Valdosta State Director of Athletics Herb Reinhard .
“ I think what impressed me , even more than the football coach , is what else he brings to the table ,” Reinhard said at Jackson ’ s introductory press conference . “ And I ’ m talking about what he brings to the table ; he brings to the table with passion – sincere passion . Tremaine told me very early in the interview that he coaches to change lives . He told
Photo courtesy of Paul Leavy at Valdosta State University me about how his life was changed through
In 2006 , Jackson lived in San Antonio – three football and how his goal and why he does hours and 19 minutes from where he grew up in what he does is so he can change the lives and improve the lives of young men through the game of
Houston – with his girlfriend , who later became his wife , until they divorced . Jackson and his girlfriend football .” were expecting a baby girl , Harmony .
A life Jackson is charged with improving is that
Little did Jackson know , he was about to stumble upon his first coaching job .
Being a successful football coach and being a
of his 16-year-old daughter .
One day , Jackson was on FootballScoop . com father can be a bit of a double life . But for Jackson , looking for openings when he came across an opening for a tight ends coach at Texas A & M-Kings-
Actually , Jackson says he only knows one way
the balancing act isn ’ t a balancing act at all .
ville . when it comes to his life and career – being a coach “ It was no money . It was room and board , and through and through . if you need a class or two , we ’ ll see what we can
“ My daughter grew up on a football field ,” do ,” Jackson recalled . “ I sent the guy an e-mail , Jackson said . “ From the time she could walk to 12 , and I happened to be so close – Kingsville was two my daughter was running on the field after every hours away from San Antonio – until he was like , home game . I coach her the same way I coach these ‘ If you can get down here and we like each other , boys , and I coach them the same way I coach her . I ’ ll give you the job .’”
There are no excuses . My daughter and I talk about being a DOG .”
28 Valdosta Scene | July 2022