Guided by his three pillars of sacrifice, passion and vision, Jerry Mack has spent his career constructing more than winning programs. He has built alignment, belief and a shared sense of purpose that stretches beyond the field.
During the 2025-26 season, Mack's first as head football coach at Kennesaw State, his latest masterpiece unfolded. The Owls won 10 games, finished undefeated at home, captured the Conference USA championship and earned a trip to the Myrtle Beach Bowl. But for Mack, the season felt sweeter because of everything surrounding it.
In his first year in Kennesaw, everything moved in sync. The administration leaned in. The packed stands crackled with electricity. Energy surged across campus. The community embraced the program with pride, whether players were spotted in grocery stores and restaurants or walking through town. The connection was real.
Long before Mack earned 2025 Conference USA Coach of the Year honors and the Paul "Bear" Bryant National Newcomer Coach of the Year award, given to the nation's top first-year Football Bowl Subdivision head coach, the roots of his success were being shaped elsewhere.
His time in the NCAA Champion Forum, a transformative yearlong professional development experience, proved to be a defining step. It prepared him to lead with intention. Mack learned how to navigate the profession by working with search firms, receiving honest critiques, and refining how he presented himself and his vision.
"I took away so many valuable lessons from the experience," Mack said. "One of the most impactful was media training, learning how to handle tough questions when you're put on the spot. It taught me how to gather my thoughts quickly, think on my feet, and respond with clarity and purpose. The mock interviews, especially those built around real-life scenarios like preparing for a position at 'University X,' pushed me to think more deeply about my answers and approach."
For Mack, mentorship is a responsibility.
In meeting rooms, he's the one jotting notes while others speak, circling back after conversations and asking one more question before the door closes. There is a quiet urgency to the way he listens, a hunger that once shaped him and now drives his leadership.
Today, that same energy is poured into others. He lingers after practice to talk through a young coach's plan. He breaks down moments with players until it clicks. He makes sure no one under his watch feels like they are figuring it out alone. In those small, steady exchanges, his purpose reveals itself, something bigger than wins and losses.
"The Champions Forum has also helped me become a better communicator, especially when explaining X's and O's to audiences who may not be deeply familiar with the sport," Mack said. "Overall, the experience sharpened me as a professional, made me more prepared for the interview process and helped me better articulate my value. It's something that continues to pay dividends over time. I love leading young people and learning from other coaches."
That instinct was built long before the whistle and the headset, long before six conference championships and five bowl game appearances became part of his coaching résumé.
Mack's parents modeled consistency by going to work every day, providing and setting a standard without needing to announce it. It left an imprint. He learned early that anything worth having required effort, discipline and commitment.
Now, with his wife, Starlett, and their children, Jaden, Jaxon and Skyler, those same values shape how he leads and lives. Whether he is mentoring, game-planning or spending time with his family, the foundation remains steady. Leading from a place where purpose, values and vocation are fully aligned, Mack's work is an authentic extension of his life.
In quieter moments, away from the field and the noise, he unwinds by watching YouTube videos, taking a breath before the next demand calls.
"I believe in working hard in life, and I hope I've shown that and passed it on," Mack said. "Anything worth having takes hard work, and I've tried to apply that in everything I do."
