John Jacobs, a Lettermen at tight end in 1987, died on Tuesday morning Oct. 24 from complications with cancer. He was 49.
Jacobs, a graduate of Smithfield-Selma High School, was a popular teacher and coach at Cleveland High in Clayton, N.C. He was the wide receivers coach for the football team, the head varsity boys basketball coach and the head junior varsity baseball coach at Cleveland. He was diagnosed with melanoma in the summer of 2016. After his diagnosis, he continued coaching and teaching.
Jacobs was part of the Tar Heel program from 1986-88, red-shirting the first year and lettering the second year. His passage in the 1988 football media guide reads: “Saw considerable action in 1987 ... Opened the season as the number three man ... However, became the chief backup to Daryl Parham after starter John Keller was injured at Georgia Tech ... Played in every game and was the team's sixth-leading receiver ... Had 10 catches for 100 yards ... Had three catches in a game twice—against Navy for 23 yards and against Auburn for 38 yards.”
A Celebration of Life service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 29, 2017 in the Cleveland High School Gymnasium, 1892 Polenta Road, Clayton, NC 27520. For more on John's story, click here.
