09/07/2016

On Tuesday, Waldorf University announced that Denny Jerome will reassume duties as the university's director of athletics.

Jerome, who served as associate athletic director the past five years, has guided Waldorf's athletic department in administrative leadership for 35 years, including a tenure as director of athletics that spanned three decades.

"Denny's love for Waldorf and knowledge of the athletic department, along with his reputation in the conference, position him well to lead Waldorf athletics into the future," Waldorf President Dr. Bob Alsop said. "I am very grateful for his willingness to serve Waldorf in this capacity again."

Following the 2013-14 academic year, Jerome retired from coaching after 42 seasons as head coach of the Waldorf women's basketball team with an overall record of 786-439. He was the first-ever coach of the program, which was established in 1972. During Jerome's coaching career, the Warriors averaged 19 wins per season. They earned seven National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament appearances. Under Jerome, Waldorf progressed when the college became a four-year institution and joined the ranks of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA.) The Warriors won the Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) title in 2004-2005 after finishing second in 2004. Jerome was named the 2004 MCC Coach of the Year. In 2015, he was inducted into the NJCAA Women's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Bart Gray, who was Waldorf's director of athletics for the past three years and led the Warriors to joining the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA), is stepping in to oversee the university's Title IX compliance and athletic eligibility requirements.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bart for his accomplishments as Waldorf's athletic director, including the completion of the Beebe Track and Field Complex, initiating the track and field teams, transitioning to a new athletic conference and managing the shared facilities project, among many others," Alsop said.