Dean Jackson

Husband to Candice for 25 yrs, Dad to Dustin, Noah, Seth, & Aaron, Panther Creek Coach & BLACKSMITH

[Taber Mongero @CoachTaberM]

To the Christian athlete/coach:

Remembering where our true identity rests can be challenging, especially when we are frequently met with expectations, wins and losses, performance, stats, injuries, and a multitude of earthly values/challenges that can fade/strip our joy, and make us quickly forget the gifts we’ve been given by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

A lot of us have heard the saying “Audience of One,” and a lot of us say it often. Which is great. However, it can be hard to remember the truth of that saying in the heat of everything. I remember in college specifically asking one of my community group friends at church (who now plays in the NBA) how he kept this a constant aspect of his life as an athlete because we face a lot of the same struggles as Christian athletes/coaches.

So, what is something we can do to help us remember this when we’re the man or woman in the arena?

What my buddy talked to me about, and what I ended up learning from him and implementing into my own life, was giving myself a constant visual reminder when I was on the field so I could actually remember the truth of it.

In the dirt by my feet at shortstop, I would write “AO1” before the first inning of every game and rewrite it as the game went on so it was always there. (When we played on turf, I would write it on my wrist tape or somewhere else.)

The point was that I looked down at some point before every pitch, and I wanted it to be somewhere I looked often, somewhere that blocked out all the noise, where I couldn’t see ANYTHING other than “AO1.”

This was my reminder that I had been given the platform and gift of baseball to honor Jesus, and that I wasn’t playing for the approval of a worldly audience that will find every reason to disapprove at some point. Rather, I was playing for an audience of ONE who already approves of me always and forever, no matter what happens in ANY baseball game.

The weight this took off my shoulders, and still does, is indescribable. It helps the former athlete and coach in me remember what the real purpose of this platform of baseball (or any sport) is: to know Jesus as my Savior and help make Him known to those who don’t know Him, and to use the gifts he’s so graciously given to honor him and nothing else. When I start to feel the weight of everything else, this helps free me, and I’m only free because of Him and the price He paid on the cross.

This changed everything for me when I fully understood AO1 and committed to remembering the importance of keeping that mindset. I hope it can do the same for you. It’s great to say it, but it’s even better to help yourself remember it as much as you possibly can.

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

Great teams don’t make excuses.
They make adjustments.

No…

“Yeah, but the refs…”
“Yeah, but they’re more talented…”
“Yeah, but we were tired…”

Accountability starts when the excuses stop.

[Dean Jackson @CoachDeanJacks]

4-0 in Playoffs!!! I’d say @DawsonStokan was DaMan!!!

[Dawson Stokan @DawsonStokan]

Final outing of sophomore year. Not how we wanted it to end but going to keep improving. Win against #3 team in the state BROCK. Carried a no hitter into the 7th.

6.2 IP
9ks
0 R
1 H
4 BB

@MattyHams @Performance_X2 @NicoMoran @CoachDeanJacks @Sean__Thomas22 @Velo_doc

[Davis Stokan @StokanDavis]

Sad to have our season come to a close with a game 3 loss in the state semifinals. A lot to be proud of as we broke almost every record in our school’s young history. @PantherCreekBsb will be back even stronger next year. Final record 36-5.

[@PCHSsoftball @pchsfriscosb]

Congratulations on a great season to our diamond partners!!!🐾

[Trent Mongero @CoachMongero]

Well well well… I guess real baseball matters again… and it wins. Don’t strike out. Get the ball in play. Hustle, steal bases, throw strikes, compete. Yea, bombs are good… but so are doubles, singles, bunt for hits, moving runners … pressure on defense. Why has it taken this long to figure it out! That’s what pisses me off. Winning Baseball ….. well it wins! At every level.

[PCHS Softball Booster @PCHS_SB_Booster]

Congrats to Shae Tavai for her selection to First Team All-District 10-4A!! 🐾🌟🐾

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

The Best Teammates Never...

1. Quit
2. Blame
3. Complain
4. Bring Drama
5. Point Fingers
6. Show Up Late
7. Make Excuses
8. Make Poor Choices
9. Run From a Challenge
10. Bring Negative Energy
11. Badmouth Teammates

Be a Great Teammate.

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

Parenting isn’t a negotiation.
Neither is coaching.

Love them. Push them. Hold the standard.

Kids don’t need easy adults.
They need honest ones.

[Dean Jackson @CoachDeanJacks]

One more round!!!

[Cross Rodriguez @CrossRodriguez4]

Another Great TEAM effort to capture the Regional Finals Championship. On to the 4A D2 State Semifinals.

Game 2 Work:

IP: 4.1
R: 0
H: 2
K: 7

@ryanbogusz_ @PantherCreekBsb

[Dean Jackson @CoachDeanJacks]

WINNER!!!

[Dawson Stokan @DawsonStokan]

Good team wins this week in the regional finals. Excited to advance to the state semi-finals. Pitched in game one.
6.2 IP
14 ks
0 R
2 H
4 BB (1 intentional)

@MattyHams @NicoMoran @Performance_X2 @Velo_doc @FoutsLeadership @DustinLMcComas

[Jon Gordon @JonGordon11]

93 life elevating habits. Preorder today and get a free positive habits workbook, free PHD (Positive Habits Developer) and free ticket to my live virtual positive habits workshop https://t.co/QwueUbcOkL

[Wow Factor-North TX @WowFactor_DFW]

Congratulations @AaronJackson888! Great season! Looking forward to summer.

[Caden Ray @Caden_Ray2]

Blessed to receive Utility Player of The Year. @PantherCreekBsb @WowFactor_DFW @CoastalBaseball @LATechBSB

[Dean Jackson @CoachDeanJacks]

Stepping up Big Time!!!

[Dylan McDonald @dylanmcd_14]

Batted a .375 AVG and had a .920 OPS for the Regional Final series. Had a couple miscues in the outfield but can always bounce back.
@PantherCreekBsb

[Dean Jackson @CoachDeanJacks]

Clutch hitter for sure!!!

[Caden Ray @Caden_Ray2]

Round 4 W Vs. Aubrey Went 5-10 on the series and moving on to the State Semifinals.Currently Hitting 445. on the season with 39 Hits. @PantherCreekBsb @WowFactor_DFW @RyanTatusko @CoachDeanJacks @CoastalBaseball @LATechBSB

[Dean Jackson @CoachDeanJacks]

Big Barrel!!!

[Hunter Handley @H_Handley_2027]

Great team win yesterday day 12-2 to secure the regional championship, came through with a home run to give us a 4 run lead, Excited for State-Semis this week! @PantherCreekBsb @CoachDeanJacks @WowFactor_DFW

[Dean Jackson @CoachDeanJacks]

Proud to be your Coach but mostly as your Dad I get a front row seat to see you do what you love!!!

[Aaron Jackson @AaronJackson888]

Blessed to be named district mvp . We also moved on to rd 5 today . Thank you to all my coaches and teammates .
@munizdiego_ @DustyHart @CoachFurlong @jakeslaughter28 @CoachJakeWells @PrepBaseball_TX @FiveToolTexas @Daxpowell @WowFactor_DFW

[Dean Jackson @CoachDeanJacks]

Another great round!!!

[Davis Stokan @StokanDavis]

@PantherCreekBsb are Regional Champs and heading to the state semi-finals. Hit .444 with two doubles and three RBI this round.

I’ve moved to catcher the past two rounds to help cover a big injury loss.

[Panther Creek Athletics @PantherCreekAth]

CHAMPIONS!!
On to round 5!