Jerry was a Medford product from the first grade through his senior year in 1960. He played varsity basketball three years in high school, was named All Tournament second team as a junior, All Tournament first team his senior year, first team All-State his junior and senior year, and was chosen to the Dell All American team his senior year. He played two years varsity football, named to the All-State team and All American his senior year.

After graduation in 1960, Jerry attended the University of Oregon on a five-year scholarship. He played three years of varsity basketball and one year of football. While getting his master’s degree, he coached the freshmen at the University of Oregon.

The time had come to enter the job market and he was hired as head basketball coach at Hoquim, Washington, a triple A Southwest Washington league school. He was their tour years and never had a losing season, the second year taking his team to State where they came in second, losing by one point to Ingraham of Seattle.

Jerry was offered the head basketball position at South Salem and was there three years, taking his team to state his second year, tagged the 17th best team in the state, but left being the 8th best. He came to Crater High in Central Point, a little closer to “home ground”, coached three years, then decided to relax and just teach school.