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Jerry Roelke - DeForest

03/01/2001, 12:00am CST
By Wisconsin Sports Network

Inducted in 2001

Jerry started coaching in the spring of 1967, as head track coach at Belmont High School, while a senior in college. He went 10-1 and lost the track championship 50.5 to 51 to Cassville. In the fall of 1967, Jerry became the first freshman football coach at UW-Platteville.

On November 8, 1967, Jerry was hired as the head baseball and freshman basketball coach and social studies teacher at Prairie du Chien. In the fall of 1968, he became the head football coach, social studies teacher, assistant varsity basketball coach at DeForest High School. DeForest's football record under Jerry Roelke from 1968-present (32 years) is 186-118-l.

Jerry has coached eight conference football championships and his teams earned 12 playoff berths. DeForest High School's playoff record under Jerry is as follows: Division IV State Runners-Up - 1980, 1981; Division IV State Champions 1982; Division IV State Semi-Finals - 1983; Division IV State Semi-Finals - 1984. Jerry has coached basketball, wrestling and track, in addition to football.

In 1974, Jerry became the athletic director and remained in that position until 1992. In 1987, he was an assistant coach for the South Shrine Bowl All-Star game and was the head coach of the South team in 2000.

From 1974-1992, as athletic director, Jerry developed all the girls sports and expanded all sports programs to 16 different sports and added freshmen, junior varsity and varsity reserve teams. During the period from 1979-1992, DeForest had 75% of the total school population involved in at least one sports activity.

Jerry was a member of the DeForest Lions Club for 10 years; a member of the Health Curriculum Committee for the DeForest School District; and an original committee member of the WFCA Clinic for five years.

Jerry has received the following awards: 8 WFCA Conference Championship Awards; 8 John Barth Foundation Championship Awards; Champion Knitt Wear Upper Midwest Coach of the Year, 1982, Madison Pen and Mike Club Achievement Award; DeForest held a conference win streak of 41 games from 1980-1983; Achievement Award from John Barth Foundation for 100 wins, 1984; ISO wins, 1992; Achievement Award from WFCA for 100 wins and ISO wins; WFCA Service Award for 20, 25, and 30 years; District 13 Coach of the Year, 1992; Service Award from DeForest Area Schools, Athletic Director, 18 years; 4-year letter winner at UW-Platteville for football; Starter/played semi-pro football with Madison Mustangs from 1968-71 (team had 47 - 7 record); 3 CSFL League Championships.

Jerry holds a B.S. degree from UW-Platteville, 1967; M.S. from University of Minnesota-Winona, 1974; lifetime teaching certificate in history, geography, broadfield social studies, health, physical education and recreation.

Tag(s): Hall of Fame