FAYETTEVILLE—Veteran coach Tom Jackson died on Sunday at the age of 79, following complications from a fall he suffered in February.

       Jackson enjoyed a 44-year career in teaching and coaching and his best known for his great success in women’s basketball at Pine Forest High School, although he also coached a variety of other sports, including cross country, softball and junior varsity football, and won conference championships in them.

      He retired in 2004 with a career record in women’s basketball of 650-391, with his teams earning 13 conference championships and making the NCHSAA playoffs 30 times. Twice he was named the Associated Press state coach of the year, according to the Fayetteville Observer.

      Jackson coached in both the North Carolina Coaches Association East-West game and the Carolinas All-Star Classic, featuring a team from North Carolina against South Carolina. The gymnasium at Pine Forest has been named in his honor.