POMONA -- Jim Sackett, the Hall of Fame track and field coach that put Cal Poly Pomona on the map in his 27 years as the head coach of the Broncos from 1980 to 2007, passed away on Sunday.  He was 86 years old.

"Coach Sackett was a beloved coach, mentor and friend to all," said CPP Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brian Swanson. "He was a principled man resolute in fairness and equity. Coach Sackett was always available to every student-athlete and staff member. His office drop-ins were filled with wonderful stories and his passion for all sports was always evident in all our conversations. We are all better people and professionals being able to call Coach Sackett a colleague and friend."

"Coach Sackett remained highly connected to Cal Poly Pomona after his retirement, including being inducted into the Broncos Hall of Fame in 2014 and the CCAA Hall of Fame in 2020," Swanson added. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Coach Sackett's family and we are thankful that they shared his time, talent and treasures with us during his coaching career."

If you would like to submit a short tribute for Coach Sackett, CLICK HERE, or go to www.broncoathletics.com/jimsackett.  Tributes that are submitted will be added to the bottom of this story and/or shared with Coach Sackett's family.

Also, if you would like to honor the memory of Coach Sackett with a gift to the CPP Track & Field program, donations to the James & Phyllis Sackett Scholarship Endowment can be made HERE. For questions, please contact Lauren Goins at lcgoins@cpp.edu or (909) 869-2863.

Sackett, who was recently inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame, adding to his already impressive list of Hall of Fame accolades, built the CPP track and field program into a national powerhouse when he arrived in Pomona in 1980.

On the conference stage, Cal Poly Pomona's men won five CCAA cross country championships, with four Broncos crossing the line first to take the individual title. He directed the men's team to the NCAA Championships 14 times. The team ran to a top-10 finish on seven occasions during Sackett's tenure, including the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships team title in 1983. In the title-winning run, the Broncos compiled 86 points to edge out second-place St. Cloud State (100) and UMass Lowell (118) for the top of the podium. After that season, and again in 1997, Sackett earned NCAA Division II Cross Country Coach of the Year honors. 

During a memorable span from 1996 to 1998, Sackett was named the United States Track Coaches' Association's National Coach of the Year in men's cross country in 1997, the USTCA's Women's Track and Field National Coach of the Year in 1997, the CCAA Coach of the Year in men's cross country in 1996 and 1997, the CCAA Coach of the Year in women's track and field in 1997 and 1998, the NCAA West Regional Coach of the Year in men's cross country in 1996 and 1997 and the USTCA's West Region Coach of the Year in women's track and field in 1997 and 1998.

In addition to his accomplishments as a coach, Sackett has a long history of service to the sport. In his career, Sackett hosted five national championships – three in track & field (two at Western Illinois and one at Cal Poly Pomona) and two in cross country (both at Cal Poly Pomona) – and five West Region cross country championships. He also served on the NCAA Track & field sports committee for nine years, a record tenure.

Sackett's career achievements have garnered him multiple distinctions. He received the distinguished service award in 1997 from the NCAA Cross Country Coaches Association, and also in 1989 and 1994 for his track & field contributions. In 1993, Sackett was inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame. In 1997, he added the Western Illinois Hall of Fame to his string of accomplishments, and in 2007, Sackett was named to the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame. He was enshrined in the Cal Poly Pomona Hall of Fame in 2014, and can now add CCAA Hall of Fame to his long and illustrious list of accolades. 

During his 38-year span of coaching in the Division II ranks at Western Illinois and Cal Poly Pomona, Sackett coached 12 national champions, 135 outdoor track All Americans, and 24 cross country All Americans.
 

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TRIBUTES & QUOTES ABOUT COACH SACKETT

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Coach Sackett taught us what it truly meant to be a scholar-athlete as one of his main coaching tenets was that of student success.  He was serious about his role and his expectations of us as athletes.  He taught us life lessons that many of us still carry forward to this day.  I will miss our talks, our laughs but most of all, I miss us reflecting on our successes and his impact to so many of his athletes.  Many of us would not have continued our educational and career journeys without his encouragement and tough love.  Thank you Coach for believing in me as a runner and a scholar.  You not only focused on doing good on the track and field but in life!  You showed us the importance of relationships, connections and the essence of a track and field family.  You will be missed beyond words!
     - Janetta Dismuke, CPP Track & Field, 1992-94

 

Thank you for all you have done for Cal Poly Pomona, student athletes, and the entire sport of cross country and track and field. Your legacy will live on!
     - Ryan Carrell, CPP Cross Country, 2009-13

 

Thank you Coach for taking a chance with me although my previous coach tried to discourage you. I was far from the elite 800m runner I used to be and you welcomed me with open arms while encouraging me to run my best and have fun. You were well-known and respected in the track and field community. I was shocked when one of my professors in Alabama knew who you were and spoke of the many athletes you trained while in Illinois. To the family, thank you for sharing a piece of him with us.
     - Jamiil Hill, CPP Track & Field, 1996-98

 

Coach Sackett opened a door for me that changed my life forever. Even when I didn't or couldn't give much in return to him, he still provided me with the opportunity. This door he opened lead to many blessings that me and my family are blessed with to this day. I will honor him by keeping his legacy and character alive through story. Hoping it will be passed down to the generations that follow. Thank you Coach Sackett. God bless you and your family.
      - Marquis Johnson, CPP Track & Field, 2002-05

 

Coach and mentor. I will remember Coach Sackett for both but will always appreciate the latter the most. As he did patiently with hundreds of other students, he would sit with me in his office and listen to me complain about classes, workload and teachers. Words of encouragement were the only words spoken by Coach during those times and were much appreciated by the ears listening. Coach was a great teacher on the track but was as great a listener which is what I will remember the most on and off the track. Thanks Coach!
     - Bill Perkins, CPP Track & Field, 1987-91

 

Coach Sackett believed in me and gave me an opportunity to be a student athlete. Because of him, I was able to attend college and be in the position I am today. I am grateful I had the opportunity to let him know I was grateful for him and for seeing the best in me. Rest well Coach Sackett.
     - Valerie Henderson, CPP Track & Field, 2001-06

 

I worked with Coach Sackett from 1991 until he retired in 2007. He was a true Track & Field and Cross Country coach. He could coach every event.
     - Chuck Foote

 

Coach Sackett was such an incredible human being. A huge loss, but what a long-lasting impression he left on so many. R.I.P., Coach Sackett.
     - Sean Zeitler, CPP Track & Field, 2001-06

 

Coach was the greatest thing to happen to me at that time in my life. He believed in me when others passed on me and didn't think I was good enough. Coach changed my life and made me a NATIONAL CHAMPION!! I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL!!! REST IN PEACE SIR
     - DeVon Edwards, CPP Track & Field, 1991-96

 

I will always remember and be grateful for Coach Sackett's profound impact on my life, not just as an athlete but as a person. Coach Sackett was deeply dedicated to his craft but he still put family and education first. We all worked hard for Coach Sackett, not because he yelled at us or cracked the whip (which he sometimes did), but because he respected us and put his love and focus into his work, and we reciprocated. He helped shaped countless people into better athletes and better humans. Thank you Coach, for lots of amazing memories on the CPP track team.
     - Paul Nurre, CPP Track & Field, 2004-06

 

When I first actively interacted with Coach Sackett, I had been warned he was "tough!" However, after a few common causes with him as a NCAA committee member and my role as a coach and 'administrator ' in the USTFCCCA, I reinterpreted the "tough" label as honorable, consciousness and moral. I admired his constant outward proclamation of love and respect for his wife, and always saw the care and concern he had for his family and student athletes. Not one for 'b.s.', Jim demanded fairness and positive educational process in his decisions. The world is a better place for his life. I value that he accepted me as a real friend. I do regret, however, that I never got him in my boat for a day of fishing like we wished.
     - Doug Watts, Edinboro University XC and TF Head Coach, 1969-2013

 

I ran Cross Country and Track at Western Illinois University. I went there because of Fred Lyon, the XC coach that recruited me. When he left, I stayed because of Coach Sackett. We had very good teams, and they were well rounded. He recruited good people that were good athletes. I would not be the coach that I am without his mentorship. There are three characteristics I dwell on: A commitment to excellence, caring about people, and trust. Coach Sackett was all three. Two of my high school runners were All-Americans for him.
     - Ira Price, Western Illinois University Cross Country/Track & Field, 1970-73

 

A great coach and mentor. Coach Sackett, though known around the country by athlete's and coaches alike was a great example of humility and excellence. Coach inspired me to be the best athlete, student, husband, father and track and cross country coach. He always described himself as "just the bus driver" when asked about his work with his student athlete's, though we all know he was so much more. Coach excelled at every aspect of track and field, something you just do not see anymore. God bless you coach you are already missed.
     - Tony Reyes, CPP Cross Country/Track & Field, 1980-84

 

Thank you Coach Sackett! Thank you for bringing me to CPP to start a new life. Thank you for teaching me how to be the best athlete I could be. Thank you for the life lessons learned while talking to you in your office or on road trips for meets. Thank you for pushing me to become a leader. You were a great coach and an even better person who changed the trajectory of so many young men and women in a positive way throughout your career. There are not many people in life that change your entire future, but Coach Sackett was one of those people for me. I am very thankful for the time we spent together. You will be greatly missed Coach!
     - Adam Moore, CPP Track & Field, 2004-07

 

Coach recognized the hard work ethic each of his athletes brought with them to the team. He recognized our competitive drive to be the best runners we can be during long interval workouts, the "Mt SAC Special", and qualifying for nationals. But, he also recognized us for our hard work ethic that came from life outside of competition. Some of us had full time jobs and part time jobs. Some of us where far from home trying to make a better life for ourselves. And some of us where getting a second chance at competing collegiately and earning a degree. The greatest memory for me was when we all stood up on stage at the 2006 Cross Country Regional Championships with Coach Sackett. We had just qualified for a second straight appearance to the Division II Cross Country Championship. It means a lot to me because Coach challenged me to be a leader and to make a positive impact on the team. Thank you Coach for being objective and never holding anything back. I appreciate how you believed in me and never treated any less as an athlete or as a man. You always be a positive part in my running story and my life story.
     - Eddie Venegas, CPP Cross Country/Track & Field, 2005-07

 

I not only had the opportunity to run for Coach Sackett, he also gave me the opportunity to assist coaching the XC and track programs after I graduated. From Fall 1983 until the day he retired, I was honored to be part of the Cal Poly Pomona program under his guidance. Coach wore many hats; coach, mentor, psychologist, guidance counselor, academic advisor, parent-by-proxy, and friend. He shaped the lives of countless student-athletes, and left a mark on us all. Coach James Sackett retired on June 24, 2007, a day I'll never forget. It was the day after my son James was born. Godspeed Coach. We all love and miss you.
     - David Loud, CPP Cross Country/Track & Field, 1983-88

 

Coach Sackett gave me the confidence that if I bought in to the program and worked hard I could perform to my potential. I grew immensely as a person and an athlete during my time under Sackett.
     - Tom Hummel, CPP Cross Country/Track & Field, 2002-07

 

Thanks Coach for taking a chance on this wild horse and letting me compete in the sprints for the Broncos. Thanks so much again for your patience and the accommodations for my undergrad course work and training schedule (Eg. loaned me keys to the weight room shed by the track to let me get my workout in the evening). Most of all, thanks for taking care and looking out for me after I completed my four years running track, and made sure I finished my undergrad education. Meant the world to me. Will miss you coach.
     - Allen Sabio, CPP Track & Field, 1998-2001

 

I am so saddened to have read that my Head Track & Field Coach at Cal Poly Pomona, Coach James Sackett, passed away Sunday morning, February 13, 2022 at 86 years old. He was a very kind, calm, considerate, & level-headed man. I never saw him upset. I remember even when he was telling another coach that he was driving in a residential area while talking to someone on the phone, he got a speeding ticket. He didn't lose his cool. He seemed to take everything with stride from what I remember seeing/feeling. My time competing on the Track & Field team at Cal Poly Pomona was filled with so much fun & comradely. All I remember is great times together as a team. Hard sprint practices were made enjoyable with a teammate singing & other things we would laugh about & we hung out with some the guys on the weekend, or during the traveling meets too (Reggie, Allen, Paul, Jose, Kelvin, Sergio, & others). I remember lifting weights & running around the hilly campus during Preseason too. Being on the 4x100m relay in 1999 with the superstar ladies (Tabreshia, Jocalyn, & Dominique) helped us achieve some great times & qualify for NCAA Div.2 Nationals & receive a CCAA "1st Team" certificate & 900 Club plaque. I still haven't figured out what 900 club means, but it sounds good. So many times we went out to eat. Before every meet, we ate at IHOP & after every meet, we ate at HomeTown Buffet or Sizzler. The trips in the school Vans & flights up north or out of state were the best! Except the one regret I have, that I haven't forgotten. We were in an airport near one of the big meets, like NCAA D.2 champs or Cal-Nevada or an Indoor meet maybe, and Coach Sackett set his athletic straw hat he received from the competition in the chair next to me & asked me to watch it & I said ok. I was looking down doing homework & out of my peripheral vision someone picked up his hat. I finished the problem I was on & looked around & asked if a teammate took his hat or if Coach Sackett picked it up. Sadly, it was neither. Someone stole his hat that I was supposed to be watching. I felt so bad for that & am so sorry that I did not glance up sooner & see who it was & chase them down. But, he didn't get mad, he just said that that was a popular item around that area. Another super awesome thing he did was placing me with two other athletes on the Track & Field team in the Village apartments across from Cal Poly Pomona. I got to be roommates with @Kdlee who did throws & @KimberlyLung who did jumps & the heptathlon. There was also a foreign exchange student from Japan named Shima who was a pleasure to room with as well. It wasn't until recently when I was looking through photos, trying to find results, & looking at awards, that I realized that he made me a captain of the sprints for the Track & Field team. Also, even though my times weren't as good as they were at Golden West College when I transferred, he still continued to keep me on scholarship for the next year of competition in Spring 2000. And in 2001, he offered me a position as a student-assistant coach for the Track team, & paid for my tuition that year too. I graciously accepted & got to help out with starting the sprint workouts & helping out with 4x100m relay hand-offs. I remember him complimenting me on how I noticed that the slight hesitation between "turn & go" compared to "turn while taking off," in one motion, which increased the reaction time & make for better, quicker hand-offs. I had such an incredible time at Cal Poly Pomona practicing & competing with talented, humble, & kind teammates. I feel like a lot of it was because of Coach Sackett. When I read that he had a stroke about a year & a half or so ago, I was devastated. I saw how my loving grandma declined after having strokes & it was heartbreaking. Coach Sackett was able to power/fight through for another almost two years. I regret not sending him the card & photos that I had been meaning to send, that had always been on my long to-do list & the envelope had already been labeled with his address in Surprise, Arizona. I hope he knows how much I appreciate everything he did for me & all his teams & coaches. I wish I had thanked him more. Hopefully, while he is in limbo briefly he can see this. I just read that he was in Placentia recently for his final days. May he Rest In Peace ???? & his memories of a Hall of Fame Track & Field/ Cross Country Coach always live on leaving his Legacy for @calpolypomonatrackandfieldxc.
     - Kelly Marshall, CPP Track & Field, 1999-2000

 

As the co-head coach at El Modena HS I often brought my team to compete at the Bronco Invitational which Coach Sackett held in early September. Coach Sackett did not just offer a competitive opportunity for high school athletes to compete, he offered a heart warming experience for young men and women to experience. Athletes from his team would guide and encourage all the runners on the course. It did not matter if the runner was trying to break a course record or simply trying to finish the race, every runner was treated with dignity at his invitational. Not to be overlooked was his generosity when it came to awarding medals. Many athletes on my team earned their first medal at the Bronco Invitational. Coach James Sackett brought smiles to many a young runner's face. Thank you, Coach.
     - John Ahern

 

Thank you for always meeting us where we were and pushing us to be greater.
     - Thomas Darby, CPP Cross Country/Track & Field, 1999-2001

 

Even though he'd been doing this a thousand years, Coach Sackett always listened and adjusted to his athlete's needs. I was never his star athlete, but he made me feel like I was. Coach Sackett not only taught me to be a better runner, but, more importantly, he taught me to be a better person.
     - Rogelio Flores, CPP Cross Country/Track & Field, 1996-98

 

I'll always remember Jim Sackett as a great coach and an even better role model. Through his own life experience, he taught all of his student-athletes how to persevere in the face of adversity. His emphasis on mental training in sports contained valuable life lessons that I still find beneficial. He will live forever in the hearts of those that were fortunate enough to have known him.
     - Steve Perez, CPP Cross Country/Track & Field, 1983-87

 

Coach Sackett was a tremendous coach and an outstanding person. He made me into an athlete that I could be proud of. He was the head of our track family during my time at Cal Poly Pomona. There aren't enough hours in the day to recount all the fond memories I have of Coach and of that team. Those were some of the best years of my life and the values that he instilled in us will be carried forward to future generations. I came into the sport thinking of myself as a short distance runner and nothing more. But Coach Sackett saw something more. He made me conquer one of my fears of running mid distance, and in the end I became a two-time All American in 800m. And ended up doing much better in my favorite race (400m) and becoming conference champion. That wouldn't have happened without his coaching. I am a product of his success. All I had to do was follow his instructions and trust in his coaching and I did it. Coach Sackett was a genius on and off the field. Not only did he make me a faster, stronger, athlete but he helped me become a leader on and off the field. In a way, he adopted us as his children. Coach Sackett always made sure that his athletes were healthy, he also checked in with us about our academics and our family. I remember thinking during my last year of Cal Poly Pomona, that I just wanted to make him proud, because to be on his good list was gold. I felt that I had always come up short in my dreams. But Coach Sackett he showed me quite literally that if you work hard, you will succeed. He contributed so much to the sport. I will always remember his sayings... things that a Dad or Grandpa would say. My favorite was: "Make sure you have your ducks in a row." Our team would joke about some of his sayings that we were to teenage or 20ish to understand and ask, "What does that mean, Coach?" Then he might say something to make us even more confused. But now I understand what he was trying to do. I think he knew that track was a metaphor for life. At the end of the day, you get out of it what you put in. You work hard and you bring your passion, and you will be successful. I love and will miss you Coach, but you will always be with me in my spirit.
     - Carmen L. Franklin, CPP Track & Field, 2002-06