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Meet Jerry Macken: Football Coach, Track & Field Coach, PhyEd Teacher

By Staff, 07/28/21, 10:15AM CDT

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Our faculty are dedicated to our students! Many of them don't only teach - they also coach or advise clubs as well. 

To celebrate our coaches who also teach or are staff at CDH, we're sharing a Q&A with each of them over the next few months! Today, meet Jerry Macken, a PhyEd teacher who coaches both Football and Track & Field.

Did you participate in the sport you coach as a student-athlete? 
In high school, I participated in football, basketball, and track. I played football in college at the University of Minnesota.

What made you decide to coach?
It is something I always wanted to do. When I was young, I thought I would play pro football and then a teacher and coach after retirement. I've been able to live my dream, except for the pro football part :)

How long have you been coaching here at CDH?
I have been coaching at CDH since 2002. Football 2002-present, Track 2006-present, Basketball 2002-2004.

What do you love about coaching?
There are so many things I love about coaching! I love when people work hard and achieve more than they thought they could. I love that students need to work together for team success. I love that the intangibles developed through sports are applicable to work and life.

How does your experience as a coach improve your teaching and vice versa?
Coaching and teaching are pretty much one and the same. My job is to help students share their talents, improve on weaknesses, and develop their intangibles to make their team and the world better.

Do you have any favorite memories from your time coaching?
I have many great memories from state championships and great accomplishments in athletics, but nothing compares to being along for the ride of seeing a person go from a middle-schooler to a confident adult who is a good person.

Read about previously featured coaches:
Chris Babcock
Amy Bellus '90
Rob Bollinger
Mike Brewer
Jesse Cusick '98
Crystal Flint
Bob Kinne '11
Jerry Kline '93