High School Coach Celebrates 900th Victory

Jim Jacobsen, in his 31st season as golf coach at his alma mater, Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, was honored Saturday, May 11, on the occasion of earning his 900th coaching victory.

That milestone was achieved on April 18, making Jacobsen just the third coach in any sport New Jersey high school annals to attain it. Jacobsen was feted last week at a celebratory reception at the Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton.

He joins St. Anthony boys basketball coach Bob Hurley and Pascack Valley girls basketball coach Jeff Jasper as coaches to record 900 wins.

Over the course of his 31 seasons, Jacobsen’s teams have won five state titles and 18 regional titles and enjoyed 10 undefeated seasons. This past week, Bergen Catholic won its first North Non-Public A title in four years and qualified for next week’s state championship. It marks the 27th state finals appearance for the school under the veteran coach.

Ryan Rose and Steve Weingroff led the team by each shooting 76. Rose, who doubles as the placekicker on the nationally ranked Bergen Catholic football team, won the 2012 NJSGA Billy Y. Dear Junior championship.

Jacobsen, 64, who holds a handicap index of 8, began his coaching career in 1983. He didn’t start playing the sport until college.

He won his first Tournament of Champions title in his first season of coaching. In his 31 seasons, Bergen Catholic has lost just 29 matches.