Hall of Fame
Michael Arnez Jacobs, the son of Lewis and the late Maxine Jacobs, was born in Frankfort, Kentucky. He is the oldest of four children. His parents both attended Kentucky State College. His mother, Maxine, worked for the State Government in Frankfort. Michael’s father, Lewis, is a business owner from Florida.
Michael grew up playing tee-ball, pee-wee league, little league, and continued to play baseball through his freshman year in high school. His dream was to play baseball for his favorite team, the Cincinnati Reds. Michael was talked into running track by a friend after being cut his sophomore year from the baseball team. Track is where Michael learned that he had great running and jumping ability. It turned out that Michael was one of the fastest 400m runner in the city and best high jumper at over 6’ 4”. His high school coach, Elmo Head, trained him in the triple jump which he picked up quickly to become the best triple jumper in the city. His senior year, Michael had improved by 10 feet in the triple jump, won first place in five events, and received the League Athlete of the Year Award.
While competing in the Regional Championships, Michael was approached by Coach Alvin Sharpe about competing at the college level. Michael did not think he was good enough to compete, but at the encouragement of his mother, he accepted and became a Cumberland Indian. Michael placed 3rd in the triple jump in the 1978 and 1979 NAIA National Indoor Championships and 4th in the 1979 NAIA National Outdoor Championship. A few major meets that he won include the University of Tennessee All-Comers Meet, Eastern Kentucky Invitational, and the 1978 Mason-Dixon Championship. Michael was a member of the teams that won four straight KIAC and District 32 Outdoor Track Championships and finished 6th and 8th in the nation in indoor track.
Michael currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he works as an Exercise Specialist/Personal Trainer. Michael developed a Senior Fitness program for the city that lasted for a year and a half before closing due to city funding. He coaches Track & Field at Withrow University High School. Michael enjoys performing close-up magic for kids and adults of all ages.
