Jacksonville State University Athletics

Tom Roberson won six straight Alabama Collegiate Conference basketball championships during a long and illustrious coaching career ay Jacksonville State University. Roberson, who became head coach in 1953, started the championship run into 1964. Due to a lack of scholarship aid, Roberson was forced to win with smaller players in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, which meant playing man-to-man defense and utilizing the shuffle offense. Later, when scholarships increased, Roberson recruited bigger, faster talent resulting in 100-point games. He also served as offensive line coach for the Gamecock football team and was a key figure in JSU’s 1955 Refrigerator Bowl victory over Rhode Island and other great wins before devoting all his energy to basketball in 1965. Roberson turned out dozens of successful coaches, including bill Jones, the current head-basketball coach at Jacksonville State University. Roberson graduated from Sylacauga High School in Sylacauga, Alabama. Roberson retired, in 1971 as the winningest coach in JSU history.