STORRS, Conn. - Former University of Connecticut football coach Tom Jackson passed away on Thursday, Jan. 30, in Sarasota, Florida at the age of 76.
Jackson posted a 62-57 record at the school from 1983-93 and served as an assistant coach for five season previous to being named head coach. The 62 wins is the third-highest in school history as his 119 games coached.
Jackson led UConn to Yankee Conference championships in 1983, '86 and '89. His UConn teams won eight games twice and seven games on two other occasions.
Raised in Scotch Plains, N.J., Jackson was a 1970 graduate of Penn State and was tri-captain of the 1969 Orange Bowl champion Nittany Lions. He also played in the 1967 Gator Bowl and 1968 Orange Bowl. In his final two years, Penn State had a perfect 22-0 record. He earned All-East honors ss an offensive guard.
He earned his undergraduate degree from Penn State in health, physical education and recreation, and a master's from Cortland (N.Y.) State in 1975 in physical education.
Jackson coached the offensive line for one year at Penn State before serving in the same role at Watchung Hills (N.J.) Regional High School for two years. He then served as an assistant coach at Cortland State for four years before being named offensive line coach at Millersville State (Pa.) and serving there for one season before joining the Connecticut staff in 1978.
Jackson graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in 1966. He was the captain of the football team in his senior year and was named all-conference, all-area, all-county, second team all-state best offensive lineman.
After retiring from coaching, he worked in human resources at Edwards Systems Technology in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
He was born in Plainfield, N.J. to Thomas William Jackson, Sr. and Nancy Teipel Jackson. He had two brothers, Rick Jackson of Tampa, Fla., and Michael Jackson (wife Carol) of El Cajon, Calif. He resided in Lakewood Ranch, with his wife of 45 years Debbie (Dillon) Jackson and his daughter Sarah Jackson. He was pre-deceased by his daughter Jennifer, his parents, his brother Rick, his nephew Michael Jackson, and his nephew Jim Walters. He is survived by his aunts Susan Murphy and Debby Zindel of Connecticut as well as several nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and cousins.
A funeral mass will be held Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, 12905 State Road 70 E, Lakewood Ranch, Fla., 34202. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Building Fund at Our Lady of the Angels.
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