College and Olympic track coach Barbara Jean Jacket was born in Port Arthur, Texas. She and her two siblings were raised by her mother, who died when Barbara was just out of college. Jacket was a 1954 graduate of Lincoln High School, where she starred in basketball and track. After graduating from Tuskegee Institute in 1958, Jacket's achievements were almost too numerous to mention. Her 1965 to 1991 teams claimed 8 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) outdoor titles and 2 indoor titles; won national titles in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and the U.S. Track and Field Federation; won 8 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) cross country titles, nine indoor titles and five outdoor SWAC titles in track and field. Jacket was named SWAC Coach of the Year on 23 occasions and NAIA Coach of the Year five times. Her teams won 23 SWAC championships, and Jacket tutored 57 All-Americans. In 1990, she became the only women athletic director in the SWAC when she was named to the position at Prairie View.

Jacket has received recognition on the state, nationals, and international level. A few of her honors: named to the NAIA Hall of Fame; honored as a "Distinguished Citizen" by the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce; inducted into Tuskegee Institute's Athletic Hall of Fame (1987); selected NAIA "Outdoor Track Coach" four times; named "Coach of the Year" by SWAC in cross country track seven times, indoor track nine times, outdoor track six times; voted a proclamation for meritorious service by A & M Board of Regents in Fall of 1992; received the Joe Robercher Award; received the President's TAC Award; twice received the Yellow Rose of Texas Award; was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame (1993).

Jacket retired as head coach of women's track and field at A & M in 1991 to devote more time to the Olympics. As coach of the 1992 U.S. Women's Olympic Track Team during the Olympics which ran from July 25-August 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Ms. Jacket had the enviable task of coaching such greats as long jumper Jackie Joyner-Kersee and sprinters Gwen Torrance, Gail Devers, and Evelyn Ashford. The Women's team won overall 4 Gold Medals, 3 Silver Medals, and 3 Bronze Medals more than any team since 1956. She was the second Black female to coach an Olympic team; the first was her track coach at Tuskegee, Dr. Nell Jackson, who coached in 1956. They also set a record in the 400-meter relay. Jacket remains as athletic director at Prairie View, continuing to inspire all those who come under her tutelage.

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