David A. Jacobs

07/07/2001

David A. Jacobs, 58, of Whittier, Calif., director of athletics and professor of physical education at Whittier College, a native of Pittsfield, died Saturday at home. Born on Feb. 19, 1943, son of Charlotte Jacobs and the late Allen H. Jacobs, he grew up in Lanesboro and was a standout athlete at Pittsfield High School in the 1950s. He received his bachelor's degree in 1964 from Springfield College. Born on Feb. 19, 1943, son of Charlotte Jacobs and the late Allen H. Jacobs, he grew up in Lanesboro and was a standout athlete at Pittsfield High School in the 1950s. He received his bachelor's degree in 1964 from Springfield College. Mr. Jacobs began his teaching career at Litchfield High School in Connecticut. During his first year, his basketball team won the Connecticut state championship and he was named Coach of the Year. After three years there, he returned to Springfield College as an assistant basketball coach and earned his master's degree in 1968. From 1968 until 1971, he was assistant basketball coach and then head basketball coach at Hartwick College in New York. He joined the faculty of Whittier College in 1971 as head coach of the men's basketball team and associate professor of physical education and recreation. In 1974, he was named director of athletics and continued coaching until 1995. He also established the Whittier College Summer Sports Camp, which has served youth for almost 30 years. With 312 wins and seven conference championships as head coach, Mr. Jacobs was named National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics District 3 Coach of the Year in 1977 and National Association of Basketball Coaches West Region Coach of the Year four times. He was the author of three coaching manuals. He served the NCAA as a chairman of the Division III Men's Basketball and Nominating committees, and was a member of the Division III Championships and Legislative Review committees. In 1980, he went to Taiwan to conduct basketball clinics and assist the men's and women's national teams. He also coached in Australia, where he worked with elite men and women players, and conducted countrywide coaching clinics on three occasions. His work in Australia resulted in two publications, "The Australian Basketball Coaching Tour Journal" and "Basketball Down Under," both published by ABAUSA. He hosted coaches and teams from Taiwan, New Zealand and Australia on several occasions as they toured the United States, and served as West Region member and Division III representative to the U.S. Olympic Basketball Selection Committee. Besides his mother of Melbourne, Fla., he leaves his former wife, Maribeth Pender Jacobs of Claremont, Calif.; two daughters, Kristine Jacobs-Schoeman of Minneapolis and Jennifer Jacobs Subia of Whittier; two brothers, Douglas Jacobs of Providence, R.I., and Donald Jacobs of Litchfield, Conn., and five grandchildren.

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David A. Jacobs

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I had Coach David Jacobs as my Phys Ed teacher at Litchfield High School in the mid 1960's. He made a great impression upon me because of his commanding presence. His stature was 6 ft 6. He coached the Litchfield Cowboys Basketball team. His predecessor was Coach Ronald Pringle who was my 6th grade Math teacher, also a great inspiration. Thom. Webster, Washington, DC
from: Thomas Webster	on: 05-08-2017

I was passing through some old clippings and found a photo of David when he coached the Litchfield High School Cowboy basketball team in the 1960s. My brother, Steve, who passed away February 13, 2013, loved playing for David (we called him Mr. Jacobs, of course). I googled his name and was brought to this obituary: 58 years is way too young to pass and it was the same for my brother at 65 years. Best wishes from the Griswold family.
from: Lee Griswold	on: 01-05-2015