Jerry Kirby is a throwback. He was an old football coach who wasn’t as familiar with wrestling to start. But he knew wrestlers made better football players. And there was a need, so Coach Kirby answered the call. He became Mt. Juliet’s first wrestling coach in 1977. They won a district championship that year. He went on to establish a program of excellence for his 27 year tenure. Jerry had wrestlers qualify for the state tournament in 25 of the 27 years he coached and state placers for seven straight years beginning in 1994, including 2x champ Zac Dailey who went 159-4, not losing to anyone who wasn’t a state champ. For most of his career Mt. Juliet was 10th-12th grade so he had success in spite of only having the wrestlers three years with limited feeder programs.

Jerry also is committed to community. He was a 30 year football coach and highly decorated member of the Army Reserves and served five active tours in Europe. Jerry is a member of the state and national Education Association and even had a day named in his honor. We hope today gives you similar joy as we welcome Jerry Kirby into the Wrestling Hall of Fame.