Mike Byrnes Coach of the Year - Carmen Jackson

Carmen was born and raised in Miami Dade County, Florida. She is happily married to Calvin Jackson with two stepdaughters (Joy, Nikole), and a son (Kevin). She is currently teaching and coaching at Miami Northwestern Senior High Community School.

Carmen graduated from Miami Jackson Senior High in 1975; BS in Health Education (Jackson State University 1979); MS. in Computer Technology (Nova University 2002).

Her hobbies are sports, reading, shopping, traveling, and going to the movies. She is an active member at her church, The Fountain of Pembroke Pines.

Miami Jackson Senior High School won the first girls varsity State Championship in the State of Florida in track and field in 1975. Led by Coach Lula Smith, Carmen was a member of that state team, where she was second in the 100m dash, anchored the 4x100 and sprint medley relay. In that same year she was named Florida Athlete of the year. She was named All County 1973, 74, and 75, in track and field in her high school career. 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.

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 three State Titles (1999, 2001, and 2005), 8 Regional Titles, 14 District Titles, and 6 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), Florida Athletic Coaches Association of the year (2001-2005), and Miami Herald Coach of the Year (2001), National High School Athletic Association Coach of the year Regional winner (2001).

Her coaching physiology says that coaching frames the sport experience for the student athlete. And qu ality coaching will have the greatest influence on whether participation in high school sports becomes a positive experience for the young athlete.  Coaches will take on the roles as, a recruiter, expert teacher, trainer, strategist, promoter, caring friend, impartial judge, disciplinarian, counselor, and parent substitute.  As we wear these multiple hats we must direct our energy and goals towards the process of training and competition that will positively affects the personal development of the young student athlete. Promoting winning is just a small portion of success in the athlete’s athletic life, but more importantly using the sport as a vehicle to enrich the lives and future of the athletes should be our ultimate goal.


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