SEASIDE, Calif. — As part of the CCAA's spotlight on excellence for the month of September, we're spotlighting a pair of CSUMB alumni who helped define what excellence means to Otter Athletics. In this edition, we're putting the spotlight on men's golf national champion Dylan Jackson (2010–14).

Dylan followed his older brother John (CSUMB Class of 2011) to CSUMB and the duo helped form the foundation of the Otter run to the NCAA title in 2011. Not only was Dylan a key member of that team, he made a hole–in–one while leading the Otters to the win in the championship match.

Dylan finished his Otter career as CSUMB golf's only three–time All–American (Elis Svard joined him in that exclusive club in 2020). He also was a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All–Academic team member. As the president of the CSUMB Student–Athlete Advisory Council, Jackson represented the CCAA on the national NCAA SAAC Board in 2013–14.

Dylan's professional playing career has taken him halfway around the world and back. He's still playing in select tournaments while serving as the assistant professional at the Austin (Texas) Country Club and completing work on his PGA Class A membership.


WHEN YOU JOINED THE OTTER GOLF TEAM AS A FRESHMAN IN 2009–10, THE TEAM HAD YET TO WIN ITS FIRST CCAA TITLE. DID YOU FEEL THE TEAM HAD SOMETHING SPECIAL FROM THE START OR DID THE EXPECTATIONS BUILD AS THE SEASON PROGRESSED?
Coming into my freshman year, all I really cared about was getting a chance to play with my brother for the first time on a team. I didn't have any expectations for how the team would do, and I don't think many of the other guys did either. I was focused on playing my best as an individual and cracking the starting lineup as a freshman. Once we started playing and competing with each other, we realized that we all had the same mindset.

IN 2010–11, THE OTTERS CAUGHT FIRE BY WINNING FIVE CONSECUTIVE TOURNAMENTS LEADING INTO THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP. TELL US ABOUT BOTH THE CONFIDENCE AND PRESSURE THAT CAME WITH THAT LEVEL OF SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE.
It's hard to describe what goes through your mind in a stretch like that. We built so much confidence within ourselves that the pressure kind of went away. We were all playing so well and had such a sharp mental approach thanks to our coach, Jason Owen. He taught us how to go into an event knowing how it was going to play out if we took care of our business. Only afterwards did we look back and all say to each other, "What did we just do?"

SPEAKING OF CONFIDENCE AND PRESSURE, WHEN THE HEAT WAS ON YOU CAME UP HUGE WITH A HOLE–IN–ONE AND MIRACLE BIRDIE PUTT AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP. HOW DO STAY FOCUSED WITH EVERYTHING ON THE LINE?
The hole-in-one was a miracle, but the birdie putt was something I had prepared the entire year for. We were all about preparation. There weren't any surprises out there because of our preparation. Being prepared allows you to have confidence in high pressure situations. When you are that focused for a long period of time, everything just happens without overthinking it.

DO YOU FIND THOSE EXPERIENCES ON THE COURSE HAVE HELPED YOU DEAL WITH DEMANDING SITUATIONS OFF THE COURSE?
I definitely have taken what I learned in those experiences for situations off the course. That was one of the most physically and mentally grueling years of my life, which shouldn't make sense for golf, haha. A full academic schedule, 5:30 a.m. workouts, five–hour practices, constant travel, 12–hour competition days, all while trying to play at the highest possible level. I continue to push myself in other ventures because I know my potential. A lot of people would be very surprised how much they can truly accomplish when they extend their perceived limits.

WHEN TALKING ABOUT EXCELLENCE IN A COLLEGIATE SPORT, THE PINNACLE IS AN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP. DO YOU CONSIDER WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP MORE OR LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE PROCESS IT TOOK THE ACHIEVE IT?
That's a really great question. I think if a part of you doesn't enjoy the process of reaching the pinnacle, then you will be disappointed when the celebration of winning a championship is over. It covers such a short period of time that you have to look at the bigger picture. Those tough moments when Coach was running us, or the weather was terrible, or you've practiced for six hours straight and know you need more; those are all part of the process. It's how you know you've found something that is true to you.

OTTER FANS KNOW OF YOUR ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT MANY MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN YOU WERE VERY ACCOMPLISHED OFF THE COURSE AS WELL. NOT ONLY WERE YOU AN EXCELLENT STUDENT, BUT YOU WERE THE CCAA REPRESENTATIVE ON THE NATIONAL STUDENT–ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ONE OF THE TOP BASKETBALL STATISTICIANS IN THE CCAA. HOW DID YOU FIND TIME TO EXCEL IN SO MANY AREAS? 
Coach Owen always told us to take care of our business before anything else. I stayed really organized and had the time to do other things I loved. I met some of my lifelong friends on that committee, and it was definitely one of my highlights of my college career.  I was also pretty broke so I had to work whenever I could.   

OF ALL OF THE AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS YOU EARNED DURING YOUR OTTER CAREER, DO ANY OF THEM HOLD A PARTICULARLY SPECIAL MEANING FOR YOU? WERE THEY A MOTIVATION FOR YOU TO KEEP STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE?
The 2011 NCAA Championship definitely holds a special meaning for me. Winning a title with my brother, and really all of those guys, was the best part. We all went through the same adversity, had the same doubts, pushed each other, and surprised ourselves in the end. It was a whirlwind. That season has been a motivation for me to work together with people at the highest level, mastering our craft.