Obituary of James Nolen Norman

James Nolen Norman also known as “Coach”, 81, of Cedar Hill, Texas, passed away on
April 23, 2017. 

A memorial service celebrating the life of Coach Norman will be held Saturday, April 29th at 3:00 p.m. at Big Sandy High School 401 N Wildcat Dr, Big Sandy, TX 75755. The Reverend Gary Chalk, one of Coach Norman’s former players, will be officiating. A reception will be held immediately following the service to visit with family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to The Jerry and Joy Apple Challenge for Coaching at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. This challenge directly supports assistant coaches’ salaries for the college’s 18 different sports; the Big Sandy Independent School District Athletics Department, Big Sandy, Texas; or to a charity of your choice. The family of Coach Jim Norman wishes to especially thank Arlene Shepard, his devoted caregiver for the past 11 years.

Coach Norman was born in Tunica, Mississippi on June 4, 1935.  He graduated from Hernando High School and continued on to receive a Bachelors degree in Education from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi and a Masters degree in Education from University of Texas at Tyler. Jim served his country in the United States Army and US National Guard from January 1955 to March 1963.

Coach Norman had a successful career in education and athletics. He began his head coaching career at Big Sandy High School in 1970, serving also as the Director of Athletics.  During that time, he led the Wildcats to three state championships in football, one state championship in track along with several district and regional championships in football and track. Coach left Big Sandy in 1980 to take a position at Austin College where he served as assistant professor and assistant football coach and head baseball coach for two years. During that time, Austin College won the 1981 NAIA National Football Championship.  His career also included head coaching stops at Jacksboro and Wills Point, along with assistant coaching positions at South Garland and Lancaster. Coach Norman had a positive and lasting influence on thousands of student athletes at the junior high, high school and college levels.

Jim took every opportunity to take his family camping and on trips to the mountains across the US when he wasn’t working. These trips were extremely memorable to his family and many friends who would often accompany them.

Coach is preceded in death by his mother and father, Doc and Agnes; brothers, Dale and Gene; son Trey; and his second wife Nancy Buchanan whom he married in 1998.

Coach Norman is survived by sons James, Richard and David and daughter Margie by his first wife Mary Lee; eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; brothers Jasper and Mike and sister Mary Frances; along with many other family and friends.