Jack Hornbuckle started his coaching career in Sallisaw and was the head coach for both the junior high and high school teams from 1970 until 1974.

In 1974-75, he served as a volunteer coach for the Oklahoma City Athletic Club’s freestyle team and in 1975 was the head coach of the Oklahoma National Junior Freestyle Team. 

In 1975-76, he coached in Marietta, Georgia, before starting his long and successful career at Poteau. Hornbuckle was the first head coach for Poteau High School and continued to be an integral part of the program for the next 40 years.

Starting in the 1976-77 school year, Hornbuckle served as the head coach for both the junior high and high school teams until retiring in 2007. He continued to support the team and returned during the 2009-2010 school year to serve as an assistant coach and then served as head coach from 2010 to 2015. 

Following his last stint with Poteau, Hornbuckle served as a volunteer coach at Northside High School in Ft. Smith, Arkansas from 2021-2023. 

During his 40-year career, Hornbuckle coached 124 state qualifiers with his teams winning 419 duals and 11 conference championships.