**There will be a Celebration of Jerry Cole's life held on Saturday, December 29, 2009, at the Gamecock Center on the JSU campus. The event will begin at 2 p.m. and is open to the public.
Former Jacksonville State athletic director Jerry Cole, who oversaw one of the most successful NCAA Division II athletics programs in history, has passed away at the age of 74, following a lengthy illness.
Cole was Jacksonville State's first full-time Athletic Director, serving from 1974 until his retirement in 1998.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jerry Cole and our warmest thoughts go to his family,” said Dr. William A. Meehan, President of Jacksonville State University. “He was instrumental in the great success that our University has enjoyed through intercollegiate athletics.”
Cole was a four-year letterman and two-year starter in football with the Gamecocks from 1953-56, playing both offensive and defensive tackle. Upon earning his degree, he served time in the Army as an officer before entering private business. On March 1, 1974, Cole became Jacksonville State's first full-time director of athletics.
The Gamecock athletic programs accomplished more than any NCAA Division II school in history under his leadership. The Gamecocks became the only Division II program in NCAA history to be crowned national champions in the three major sports, with titles in football basketball and baseball. JSU also claimed a pair of National Championships in gymnastics under his leadership.
Jacksonville State accumulated 37 Gulf South Conference championships, including nine football titles, eight baseball titles, seven men's basketball championships, two volleyball titles and one women's basketball championship. The Gamecocks also won four consecutive Men's and Women's All-Conference Championships in the late 1980's and early 1990's.
Cole led Jacksonville State to Division I in 1995 and aligned most of JSU's athletic programs with the Atlantic Sun Conference in January, 1995, and helped the Gamecocks become a charter member of the Southland Football League in July of 1995. He retired in August of 1998, following more than 25 years of service.
In addition, Cole developed one of the most well-rounded athletic programs in the country. The Gamecocks claimed 12 Gulf South Conference All-Sports trophies, winning both men's and women's championships four consecutive years. At that time, no other GSC school had ever won both the men's and women's titles in the same athletic season.
After graduation from Jacksonville High School in 1953, he enrolled in Jacksonville State to begin his 40-plus year relationship with the University.
Cole played football for the Gamecocks in the mid 1950's, where he played offensive and defensive tackle for Coach Don Salls and helped the Gamecocks win the 1955 Refrigerator Bowl.
Cole is survived by his wife, Ellen, three children, Byron, Jason and Kelly, and five grandchildren.
