Jerome found a home at Waldorf

Denny Jerome arrived in Forest City, Iowa - nine hours and 600 miles away from Celina - over 45 years ago to go to school at Waldorf College in the fall of 1968. That opportunity led to a coaching career that has been legendary.

Jerome, a 1968 graduate of Celina, will be inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in July for his 42-year tenure as head coach of the women's basketball team.

"It's sort of the icing on the cake for me," Jerome said. "I was nominated by colleagues and elected by colleagues, so that's something I feel proud about. I would hope it's more than just the amount of games that we won. I think our program was a standard for many people. ... I think our program set a high standard"

A three-sport letterman and a second team All-WBL split end his senior season, Jerome arrived at Waldorf, then a two-year junior college, to play football.

"There was a couple kids from our area looking for an opportunity and the coach (Dave Bolsdorf, who was also the campus chaplain) was very active in recruiting, not just in Iowa and surrounding states but beyond," Jerome said. "I'm not so sure I was a great player, but it was a sort of an ideal opportunity for me because it was a small Lutheran two-year college and I needed some maturing as a student-athlete and at a two-year college, I could play right away."

After two years at Waldorf and two more at Concordia College (Minn.), Jerome returned to Waldorf in 1972, initially to help Bolsdorf with the football program. The school president asked him if he was interested in helping start a women's basketball program after several students, some of whom had won a state high school title in Iowa, expressed interest in playing.

"My response at that time, as I was looking to work in the football program, was I'd be glad to help out for one year," Jerome said with a chuckle.

"I think we played 10 games that first year. Then I thought we would try another year because some other recruits became available. That's the history."

Under Jerome's guidance, the Warriors became a dominant junior college team, making the NJCAA national tournament seven times. Jerome compiled a 583-240 record in junior college games before the school expanded to a four-year institution and joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

"We were well ahead of the university system (when it came to women's basketball)," Jerome said. "In fact, in the early years, we played Iowa State and actually held our own and won a game against them."

Jerome credits his high school basketball coach Dean White for his demeanor on the court.

"I still attribute my coaching style to coach White," said Jerome, who also credited his football coaches Norman Decker and Wayne Ambrose. "I don't ever remembering him raising his voice. I think the players played hard because they liked and respected him. That's the sort of coaching style I picked up."

Jerome retired as coach and director of athletics after the 2013-14 season after guiding the Warriors to a 786-439 overall record. The school named its basketball court Denny Jerome Court in his honor.

"It's a great opportunity. I'm proud of it," said Jerome. "When you step out of coaching, you feel completed. I felt good about everything we achieved in the program.

"We tried to operate with integrity. We had a lot of academic success every year, opportunities for national academic honors. We had good student-athletes. We really worked at teaching values to kids."

Although he has made a home in Iowa with Kathy, his wife of 39 years, son Jeff, daughter Jackie and their five grandchildren, Jerome has not forgotten his Celina roots.

"I'm still a Buckeye at heart," Jerome said. "When they won the national championship, I was excited. Secondarily, I'm a Hawkeye. ... We are really connected in the community. Still attend church at the Lutheran church I attended when I came to Waldorf."