Jake Gibbs, born Jerry Dean, started his sports career at the University of Mississippi. This All-American quarterback and third basemen was drafted by the AFL Oilers, and the NFL Browns in 1961. During his senior year, Gibbs led Ole Miss to a 10-0-1 record and were voted National Champions in college football according to one poll, the Dunkel Index. In 1995, Gibbs was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Gibbs was a $105,000 Yankee bonus-baby, was thought to have been in the Dickey-Berra-Howard mold. Catcher Jake Gibbs played a decade with the New York Yankees. After a notable career in both baseball and football, Gibbs returned to his alma mater, Ole Miss, and was their baseball coach for 19 seasons. In 1972 Gibbs coached an Ole Miss baseball team which won the SEC championship, set an SEC record for consecutive conference wins, and went to Omaha for the College World Series.