Anna Jackson’s Hall of Fame coaching record’ is one of the best in my memory. Jackson was the basketball coach at Jackson’s Murrah High School and led her teams to a record nine Mississippi Class 5A state titles. Nine! It’s hard to win one. Jackson’s teams won nine. To give you an example, Bert Jenkins, the legendary high school coach in any sport, won seven state championships. Another Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame coach, Orsmond Jordan won four. Jackson’s teams won 80% of their games, winning 692 and losing 167, respectively. We are left wondering why Jackson hasn’t been inducted into Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. She wondered this very thing when she was announced as the Hall of Fame inductee last October. She smiled and said that she had wondered if she needed to get out of retirement in order to win nine more state championships. Then maybe I would be accepted into the Hall of Fame. It’s a common saying: Better late than never. Jackson was more than a Murrah champion. She wasn’t just a basketball coach. She was a teacher of life lessons. Tomekia Reed, the first-year Jackson State coach, was one of her greatest learners. Reed said that Jackson’s success was due to her toughness, but that she was also caring. She cared about us all, not just as players. She was just caring.” Reed was a Murrah senior in 1998 when her mother died from breast cancer. Reed was so depressed and distraught that she decided to quit the team. Reed stated that Coach Jackson would not approve of it. Reed returned. The team won 34 games and did not lose. They also won another state championship. Reed believes that she was made stronger and more confident by the experience. However, she wouldn’t have been able to do it without Anna Jackson. Jackson was there for Reed when she needed strong support. Jackson was always there for Reed when she needed support. Reed described Jackson as “my second mom”. Jackson was successful because she was there for her when she needed. Reed replied, “Discipline.” Reed replied, “Her teams were going be disciplined. And I don’t mean just on the court. It was how we dressed. It was the way we dressed. She wasn’t just playing. We thought she was picking on us at times, but it was part of her plan for us to become a team and better people. Reed said, “Another thing was the classroom.” Reed said, “If you didn’t do your schoolwork, you didn’t play.” You had to run, or duck-walk. Reed, who will take over at Jackson State from Hinds Community College’s basketball fortunes, said she would use the lessons she learned from her high-school coach as long as she is a coach. Reed said that it was not just the Xs or Os but also the way Jackson treated people and instilled confidence. Reed said, “She made our players better, but she also made them better students and better people.” Next Wednesday: Mike Jones wins the title of athletic director and coach.