Long time coach Terry Jackson is this year’s recipient of the Al Brennan Memorial Award honouring the Coach of the Year as selected by the North Bay Sports Award Committee. Jackson’s coaching career spans an amazing 50 years here in North Bay.
Terry began his coaching career at the Elementary School level in 1963. From that year to 1976, he coached various sports including volleyball, soccer, track and field and even Trampoline at Sacred Heart and John the XXIII. In 1976 he moved over to Scollard hall and Father Mike Cundari and Principal Don Houle got him involved in coaching at the High School Level.
While hockey was his main sport, he first started his career in coaching at Scollard with the Jr. and Sr. Boy’s Volleyball team. He coached Volleyball from 76 – 82 as well as coaching Sr. Football for one year. He also coached the Jr. Soccer team for one year winning NDA as well as coaching the Golf team at Scollard from 85 – 87 winning three NDA golf titles.
Jackson’s hockey coaching career began in 1982 as an assistant to Don Craig. In 1985 he took over as Head Coach and continued in that role until 1993. After a two year absence from the bench, Terry returned in 1995 as an assistant coach and even after retirement from teaching in 1998, Jackson continued to be a key member of the Bear’s Sr. Boy’s Hockey programme including another stint as Head Coach.
During his tenure, the team won numerous NDA titles as well as NOSSA in 92, 93, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2008. In the 91 – 92 Season the team captured OFSSA Silver, losing the Gold Medal Game in Double Overtime. His teams also won the annual NDA Tournament 85, 88, 90, 92 and 93.
From 1982 – 1997, Jackson’s Scollard Bears coaching record was an astounding 394, Wins, 133 Losses and 38 Ties.
In addition to coaching he was also involved on the committee that organized the Carter Cup Hockey Tournament that spanned some 29 years and was THE tournament to go to for the Catholic High School teams from Ontario.
Jackson is one of those unique individuals, who continued to coach and work with the team long after he left the teaching profession and continues to give back to the community.
Terry will be honoured at the 36th annual Sports Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner on May 7th at the Best Western.
