Jack Bickham was an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma from 1969 to 1972, associate professor from 1972 to 1979, and full professor in 1979. He directed the annual short course on professional writing from 1973 to 1990. He received the highest honor the University gives for teaching excellence. He wrote dozens of novels in many genres, including a series of mysteries set in the tennis world. He also wrote many books on fiction writing published by Writer's Digest Books.