Feb. 9, 2010
FLINT, Mich. -- Long-time University of Michigan assistant football coach Fred Jackson and former U-M track athlete Douglas Gibbs (1973, '75-77) will be among eight inductees into the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame on Sunday, Feb. 28, at the Genesys Conference and Banquet Center in Grand Blanc, Mich. Percy Bates, the faculty representative to the athletic department, will serve as the master of ceremonies for the hall of fame inductions.
Jackson's ties to Flint began in 1972, when he accepted a teaching and coaching position at Flint Southwestern High School. As an assistant football coach, he mentored future Wolverine four-year starter Rick Leach at Southwestern. Jackson was also the head track coach, leading a pair of state championship track teams (1975 and 1977) and was named Coach of the Year in 1977. Jackson left Southwestern in 1978 to embark on a college football coaching career.
Jackson begins his 19th season as a member of the Michigan football coaching staff in 2010. He has been the team's running backs mentor since his arrival in 1992 and added duties as assistant head coach (1997-2002) and associate head coach (2003-07) during his tenure.
Jackson's election to the Afro-American Hall of Fame is another in a long line of honors received during his career. He was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association as the National Assistant Coach of the Year (2001) and he was a finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation's outstanding assistant coach (2000).
Jackson has coached five All-Big Ten first team running backs at Michigan and three of his players were named finalists for the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back (winner Chris Perry in 2003 and finalists Anthony Thomas and Mike Hart). Eight of Jackson's Wolverine backs have been selected in the NFL Draft, including three first-round draft picks.
Former U-M high jumper Douglas Gibbs prepped at Flint Northwestern High School and was an accomplished pole vaulter and excelled in the high jump. Gibbs became the first Michigan high jumper to clear seven feet and was a seven-time medal winner in Big Ten Conference meets. He was a four-year letterman for the Wolverines (1973, '75-77).
Gibbs was a member of the 1973 team that finished as the Big Ten runner-up in both the indoor and outdoor championships and tied for eighth at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He was a key contributor during his junior year to a squad that won the 1976 Big Ten title in both the indoor and outdoor championships. That 1976 team also tied for 10th at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
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