On the night he was to be inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, coach Woody Jackson was still in shock.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Jackson. “It guess it will couple of weeks.”

Jackson, who was one of 9 inductees into the 2010 class, is currently 617-272 in his coaching career and owns the AHSAA record for men’s basketball coaching titles with 6.

“It feels good,” said Jackson. “It is very humbling. It makes you realize that all the work you have done over the years wasn’t in vain.”

Before the ceremony Jackson talked about what has enabled him to maintain success everywhere that he was gone.

“First of all, we put God first,” said Jackson. “One of the main things working with young kids is you have to make sure that their respect is in the right place and if you put God first and the kids are willing to work hard, then everything will fall into place.”

During his career that has spanned over four decades, Jackson has coached almost every level of basketball in Alabama. He has won championships, coached collegiate player and even future starts during the 2008 McDonald’s High School All-American game.

As much as things have changed over that time, many things have stayed the same.

“It’s changed a bit,” said Jackson. “With today’s kids you have to learn to adapt but still be firm. You have to be able to teach your students and realize that they are different people and approach each person.”

Just because he has reached hall of fame status doesn’t mean that Jackson will slow down.

“It’s going to make me work harder,” said Jackson.

That’s good news for Selma High Saints.