Friday, December 22, 2000
Withrow's Jackson gets 300th win
Basketball coach has built solid program after some rough early years
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
George Jackson on the bench Thursday night.
(Mike Simons photo)
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At the pace Withrow coach George Jackson started, he would be due to hit win No.300 in about 10 years.
“I was 35-47 my first four years,” he said. “I was thinking about surviving, not getting to 300 wins.”
Jackson survived and thrived. He reached 300 Thursday night when his Withrow Tigers beat Walnut Hills 62-27 at Walnut.
“It's a great achievement,” he said. “It shows how insane I am to for staying with it this long.”
It was a good night for Jackson, 44. Dave Parker, the former Red and a Jackson friend, was there with a hug and a victory cigar after Jackson talked to television stations.
Former players and people who had taught and coached with Jackson also showed up.
The Cincinnati Public Schools are not easy places to build powerhouse sports programs. Take Thursday's game. It was played at Walnut, but it was Withrow's home game. Withrow's gym isn't big enough to hold games. It's not even a regulation-size court.
But Jackson has had success.
“It's hard work, dedication and consistency on and off the court,” said Steve Gentry, a former point guard for Jackson and now an assistant coach.
Things started to come around the fifth year for Jackson. He has had only one losing season since.
“I got married in 1989 (to Melanie),” he said. “Seems like I've done better since. Haven't had a losing season.”
He took a team to the state finals in 1994, losing in overtime, and the state Final Four in 1998.
He estimates 60 of his players have gone on to play in college, 18 at Division I schools. He has had one McDonald's All-American, Ricky Calloway, and one NBA player, Tyrone Hill.
Jackson may never have gotten the chance to prove himself if he had not had an understanding principal those first fews years.
Withrow was coming off a good run when Jackson got the job at age 24. A Withrow graduate, Jackson had one year of coaching experience — as an assistant at Walnut Hills.
Major McNeil was the principal at Withrow then. McNeil had taught Jackson in the fifth and sixth grade.
“He was a leader even then,” McNeil said. “When I brought him to my home to offer him the job as coach, I told him to put the character of the child above anything else, and the wins will come. And they have.”
Jackson's first few teams were the cupcakes of the old Public High School League. The Tigers lost in the first round of the tournament each of his first four seasons.
“A lot of people weren't real happy with me,” he said. “They said I was too young. Major McNeil stuck with me. A lot of others wouldn't have.”
And Jackson stuck to his plan.
“I lost a lot of good players because they didn't want to abide by the rules — academically or what we demand as far as practicing,” he said.
But Gentry says he's seen changes in Jackson.
“He's a little softer now,” said Gentry, who went to play at Xavier. “I got out (of Withrow) in '89. He was hard on us. He dealing with different kind of kind if kids now.”
This Withrow team looks like another good one. The victory over Walnut Hills improved the Tigers' record to 5-1. The only loss came in the opener against St. Xavier, the No. 1 big-school team in the area.
“We're getting better,” Jackson said. “ ... I'd like to make another run at state.”
Then a little later, Jackson wondered if there will be any more milestones in his career.
“I'm at the burnout stage,” he said. “I take it one day at a time. I don't know how much longer I'll last.”
WITHROW (62) — McGuire 2 1 6, Washington 1 3 5, P. Williams 4 6 15, Lockhart 3 0 6, Jeffries 1 0 2, Stevens 0 2 2, Darden 1 5 7, Garth 5 7 17, Wells 1 0 2. Totals: 18 24 62.
WALNUT HILLS (27) — Hopkins 1 0 3, Williams 2 0 4, Stayton 2 0 4, Lamkin 0 2 2, Bonner 3 0 6, Robinson 2 0 4, Ault 1 0 2, DuBose 1 0 2. Totals: 12 2 27.
Withrow ....... 11 14 22 15—62
Walnut Hills ....... N6 10 8 3—27
3-pointers: Wi—McGuire, P. Williams. Wal—Hopkins. Records: Wi 5-1 (QCC 4-0), Wal 1-5 (0-4).
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