Jerry Steele
{{Short description|American basketball player-coach (1939–2021)}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Jerry Steele
| image = Jerry Steele 1961 (cropped).jpg
| image_upright = 0.8
| alt =
| caption = Steele, circa 1960
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1939|3|10}}
| birth_place = Elkin, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|07|11|1939|03|10}}
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1958–1961
| player_team1 = Wake Forest
| player_positions =
| coach_years1 = 1962–1970
| coach_team1 = Guilford
| coach_years2 = 1970–1971
| coach_team2 = Carolina Cougars
| coach_years3 = 1972–2003
| coach_team3 = High Point
| admin_years1 = 1978–2003
| admin_team1 = High Point
| overall_record = 609–486 (college)
17–25 (ABA)
| tournament_record =
| championships =
| awards =
| coaching_records =
}}
Jerry Steele (March 10, 1939 – July 11, 2021) was an American basketball player and coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head men's basketball coach at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina from 1962 to 1970 and High Point University in High Point, North Carolina from 1972 to 2003, compiling a career college basketball coaching record of 609–486. Steele was also the head coach of the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association (ABA) for half of one season, 1970–71, tallying a mark of 17–25.
Early life and playing career
A native of Elkin, North Carolina, he played basketball at Wake Forest University from 1958 to 1961 and in two of those years he was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Academic team. After graduating from Wake Forest, Steele earned his master's degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
Coaching career
=Guilford=
Steele took over as the men's basketball coach at Guilford College in 1962. His first season with the Quakers, he finished with a 5–20 record. Steele then led the Quakers to two conference titles, four district championships, and four trips to the NAIA Tournament. During the 1969–70 season, the Quakers won 29 straight games, finishing 32–4 and fourth in the nation.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
=Carolina Cougars=
In 1970 Steele joined the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association (ABA) as an assistant coach under Bones McKinney. In November 1970, after the Cougars started the season with a record of 17–25, McKinney was dismissed and Steele was promoted to head coach. Steele's record for the remainder of the season matched that of McKinney: 17–25. The Cougars finished the 1970–71 season with an overall record of 34–50, placing sixth in the ABA's Eastern Division and missing the playoffs. After season concluded, Steele moved on to become director of player personnel for the Cougars and was replaced as head coach by Tom Meschery.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
=High Point=
In 1972, Steele became the head coach at High Point University. Among his early players was future High Point head coach Tubby Smith. Steele coached at High Point for 32 years, from 1972 to 2003. During his tenure, High Point won eight conference titles, made one appearance in the NAIA Men's Basketball Championships, and earned two trips to the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament. His record at High Point was 457–412. He also served as athletic director at High Point for 21 years, from 1978 to 1999. Steele retired after the end of the 2002–03 season.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
Personal life
Steele was elected to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2002 Steele was inducted into the North
Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. In 2005 Steele was inducted into the Guilford County, North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
Head coaching record
=College=
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Guilford Quakers
| conference = Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
| startyear = 1962
| endyear = 1970
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1962–63
| name = Guilford
| overall = 5–20
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1963–64
| name = Guilford
| overall = 14–12
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1964–65
| name = Guilford
| overall = 17–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1965–66
| name = Guilford
| overall = 18–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1966–67
| name = Guilford
| overall = 26–7
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1967–68
| name = Guilford
| overall = 25–5
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1968–69
| name = Guilford
| overall = 13–11
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1969–70
| name = Guilford
| overall = 32–5
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Guilford
| overall = 150–76 ({{Winning percentage|150|76}})
| confrecord =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = High Point Panthers
| conference = Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference / Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference
| startyear = 1972
| endyear = 1997
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1972–73
| name = High Point
| overall = 11–15
| conference = 6–8
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1973–74
| name = High Point
| overall = 8–19
| conference = 4–10
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1974–75
| name = High Point
| overall = 15–15
| conference = 7–7
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1975–76
| name = High Point
| overall = 12–14
| conference = 6–8
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1976–77
| name = High Point
| overall = 13–14
| conference = 7–7
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1977–78
| name = High Point
| overall = 16–14
| conference = 9–5
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1978–79
| name = High Point
| overall = 27–6
| conference = 11–3
| confstanding =
| postseason = NAIA second round
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 1979–80
| name = High Point
| overall = 22–8
| conference = 12–2
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1980–81
| name = High Point
| overall = 16–12
| conference = 8–6
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1981–82
| name = High Point
| overall = 15–10
| conference = 8–6
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1982–83
| name = High Point
| overall = 6–19
| conference = 3–10
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1983–84
| name = High Point
| overall = 15–9
| conference = 9–6
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1984–85
| name = High Point
| overall = 18–12
| conference = 9–5
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1985–86
| name = High Point
| overall = 11–17
| conference = 5–9
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1986–87
| name = High Point
| overall = 18–11
| conference = 9–5
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1987–88
| name = High Point
| overall = 22–6
| conference = 11–3
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 1988–89
| name = High Point
| overall = 22–6
| conference = 12–2
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1989–90
| name = High Point
| overall = 8–17
| conference = 3–11
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1990–91
| name = High Point
| overall = 12–18
| conference = 5–9
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1991–92
| name = High Point
| overall = 16–14
| conference = 7–7
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1992–93
| name = High Point
| overall = 12–15
| conference = 3–8
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1993–94
| name = High Point
| overall = 21–8
| conference = 10–4
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1994–95
| name = High Point
| overall = 20–9
| conference = 8–6
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = conference
| season = 1995–96
| name = High Point
| overall = 24–7
| conference = 16–2
| confstanding =
| postseason = NCAA Division II Regional semifinal
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 1996–97
| name = High Point
| overall = 18–12
| conference = 11–7
| confstanding =
| postseason = NCAA Division II Regional semifinal
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = High Point Panthers
| conference = Big South Conference
| startyear = 1997
| endyear = 2003
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1997–98
| name = High Point
| overall = 12–13
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1998–99
| name = High Point
| overall = 10–16
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 1999–00
| name = High Point
| overall = 11–17
| conference = 5–9
| confstanding = 6th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 2000–01
| name = High Point
| overall = 8–20
| conference = 3–11
| confstanding = 8th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 2001–02
| name = High Point
| overall = 11–19
| conference = 5–9
| confstanding = T–6th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship =
| season = 2002–03
| name = High Point
| overall = 7–20
| conference = 3–11
| confstanding = 8th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = High Point
| overall = 459–412 ({{Winning percentage|459|412}})
| confrecord = 404–196 ({{Winning percentage|404|196}})
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
| overall = 609–486 ({{Winning percentage|609|486}})
}}
=ABA=
{{NBA coach statistics legend}}
{{NBA coach statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Carolina
| style="text-align:left;"|1970-71
|42||17||25||.405|| style="text-align:center;"|6th in Eastern||-||-||-||-
| style="text-align:center;"|
|- ! style="background:#FDE910;"
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;"|Career
| ||42||17||25||.405|| ||-||-||-||-
{{s-end}}
See also
References
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927174307/http://www.ncshof.org/inductees_detail.php?i_recid=187 North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20131127080229/http://remembertheaba.com/Carolina-Cougars.html Remember the ABA Carolina Cougars page]
{{Reflist}}
{{High Point Panthers men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steele, Jerry}}
Category:American men's basketball coaches
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball coaches from North Carolina
Category:Basketball players from North Carolina
Category:Carolina Cougars coaches
Category:Guilford Quakers men's basketball coaches
Category:High Point Panthers athletic directors
Category:High Point Panthers men's basketball coaches
Category:People from Elkin, North Carolina