Carmen Thomas Jackson

Athletics

Mrs. Carmen Thomas Jackson is a 1975 graduate of Miami Jackson Senior High School.
While a student at Miami Jackson, Mrs. Jackson was an honor roll student. While excelling in her academics, she also was a member of the Track and Field Team which she joined during her 10th-grade year and advanced to become one of the Generals and the State of Florida premiere sprinters. She was a member of the team that won the first girl’s varsity State Championship in the State of Florida in track and field in 1975. The team was led by Coach Lula Bell Smith. On that team, she was second in the 100m dash and anchored the winning 4×100 and sprint medley relay. In that same year, she was named Florida Athlete of
the Year. Mrs. Jackson was also named All-County 1973, 74, and 75, in track and field in her high school
career. Additionally, she became a varsity cheerleader in 1973 and was named Captain in 1974-75.

After graduating from Miami Jackson, Mrs. Jackson attended Jackson State University where she earned
a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Education in 1975. While in college, she won numerous titles in the 60m
dash, 100m dash, and was a member of a sprint medley relay team that broke an indoor world record.
She was named All-American 12 times in her collegian career. She later earned a Master’s Degree in
Computer Technology from Nova University.

Mrs. Jackson is currently employed as a teacher and Head Track and Field Coach at Miami Northwestern
Senior High School, Miami Florida.

Her coaching career began in 1980 when she became an assistant coach under her high school coach.
In 1991-92 she became the head girl’s track and field coach at Miami Northwestern Senior High School.
She has won thirteen state titles (1999, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014,
2015, and 2016, 2017), 17 Regional Titles, 26 District Titles, and 19 GMAC Conference Titles. She was
named Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association Coach of the Year (1999, 2001), Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year (1999-2001, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013,2014,2015, 2016, 2016),
Florida Athletic Coaches Association of the Year (2001-2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), and Miami
Herald Coach of the Year (2001, 2007), Miami Herald Track Coach of the Year (1999, 2001, 2004,
2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014,2015, 2016, 2017), National High School
Athletic Association Coach of the Year Regional winner (2001, 2010), National High School Athletic Association Coach of the Year 2014-15, U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
(USTFCCCA) 2015 National Coach of the Year, National High Coaches Association 2016 Girls track and
field Coach of the Year