James White (cross-country)

Jimmie "Jim" White (born May 14, 1941, in Sweetwater, Texas)[1] is an American track and field coach, a former high school cross country coach at McFarland High School. From 1987 to 2003, his team won nine state championships in Divisions III and IV, as well as numerous lesser titles.[2][3]

Jimmie White
Born (1941-05-14) May 14, 1941
Sweetwater, Texas
SpouseCheryl White
ChildrenJulie White, Jami White, Tami White

Personal life

Jim White is married to Cheryl White and has three daughters: Julie, Jami, and Tami. He started teaching in the McFarland school district after graduating from Pepperdine University in 1964. White taught different subjects at numerous grade levels (fifth-grade science, seventh and eighth-grade wood shop and PE) before starting his coaching career in 1980. During his time as a cross country coach for McFarland, Jim White would follow his team on a bike as his team ran or occasionally ran with them.[4] Although White retired from coaching in 2003, he still visits and participates in practices.[5]

Movies

In 2015, Walt Disney Pictures released the film McFarland, USA about White and his program, White being portrayed by Kevin Costner.[6][7]

References
  1. Dodd, Johnny (February 20, 2015). "Meet the Real-Life Hero Coach Played by Kevin Costner in McFarland, USA". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  2. Highfill, Bob (January 12, 2006). "A long run reaches the finish line". recordnet.com. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  3. "Successful McFarland cross country team loses state title after 24 years, feels "punished"". Archived from the original on 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2015-02-08.
  4. "McFarland, USA vs. the True Story of Coach Jim White's 1987 Team". HistoryvsHollywood.com. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  5. "Jim White, Coach Behind 'McFarland' Movie: "It's a Running Town Now"". Runner's World. 2015-02-17. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  6. Moreno, Graciela (November 7, 2014). "Cross-country puts McFarland on the big screen". ABC30 Fresno. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  7. Farber, Stephen (February 4, 2015). "'McFarland, USA': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 8, 2020.



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