Warden coach becomes hall-of-famer

WARDEN — Ten league titles. Five district titles. Nineteen postseason appearances and nine state appearances.

Twenty-six years as head baseball coach with 316 wins, 226 losses and three tie games.

Now Jerry Powell can add another accomplishment to his already successful coaching career: On Dec. 13, the Warden High School science teacher and former coach was inducted into the Washington Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in SeaTac, Wash.

Although Powell’s time spent in Warden has been focused mainly on coaching baseball and teaching science, he was also seen on the basketball court as the head girls’ basketball coach in the early 1980s. And in 2006 he retired from his five years as the head football coach, the same year he chose to end his baseball coaching career.

Hall of famer

Powell said he was surprised to learn of his nomination to the hall of fame. When the coaches association president, Brad Conn, called to tell him the news, he was “a little stunned,” Powell said.

“We never won a state title here,” he explained. “(We) won a lot of games and a few championships and stuff. I was kind of surprised, to say the least.”

The induction ceremony took place at a luncheon in SeaTac. Powell described the event as “amazing” and “nerve-wracking.”

“There’s some big names, I mean there are stadiums named after some of these guys,” he said. “To know that you’re in their presence is pretty humbling.”

The last recipient of the awards program, Powell had to give a speech.

“All the neat stuff was already said by then,” he recalled with a laugh.

Powell said he received a sweater, signifying his place in the hall of fame, as well as a plaque. A custom-made Jostens ring is also being built.

“You have to feel like it’s pretty darn important,” he said. “It’s the culmination of a lot of years of doing something you love to do and to be recognized for it is pretty special.”

Baseball memories

Powell said it was difficult to choose a specific memory over another he would deem the best. He talked about the accomplishments of baseball players he’s coached, including Roberto Reyes at Concordia University, Jorge Reyes at Oregon State University and Edward Rodriguez at the University of Oregon. But the list of successful players Powell has coached is not a short one.

“We’ve had a lot of really good kids go through here that played some awfully good baseball,” he said.

Powell is proud of winning the district and league titles in three consecutive years.

“One of the most exciting (memories) was to get to play in the Kingdome in 1982 before they demolished it,” he recalled.

Powell’s team took second in state that year.

Powell’s career

In his younger years, Powell played football, baseball and basketball and wrestled one year in high school.

“I went to college on a track and football scholarship in Kansas,” he said, explaining he obtained his associate’s degree from Garden City Community College before transferring to Eastern Oregon University to get his bachelor’s in 1969.

“I graduated from college with teaching and coaching in mind,” Powell said.

In the fall of 1969, he went to work in Eureka, Nevada, before moving back to Oregon in 1972.

He took a break from teaching after two years in Oregon, but five years later decided to go back. Powell said he thought about re-enrolling at EOU but, when he learned he was still able to teach in Washington state, started applying for jobs there.

He found two openings at the time – one in Dayton, Wash., and another in Warden.

“I just felt more comfortable with the Warden job,” Powell said.

He started teaching science and helping coach baseball, as well as junior high and high school football, and said he took over coaching baseball in the spring of 1980.

In 1984, Powell said he became the head girls’ basketball coach. He held that position for four years, but decided to focus mainly on teaching and coaching baseball, while staying as an assistant football coach.

“I decided (coaching) two sports was plenty,” he explained. “Three sports was killing me.”

He eventually left the football coaching staff, only to return in the fall of 2000 as the head coach. Powell said his years as the head football coach were successful, adding one year the team had a 10-win season.

On retiring

Powell said he is satisfied with his coaching career and spoke highly of his time in Warden. However, he explained there are some things he’ll miss.

“You’re always going to miss parts of it. There’s nothing like standing on the sidelines of a football game with the national anthem, getting ready to play the game,” he explained. “There’s just a lot of excitement, especially on game day.

“Will I miss it? I’ve had my time. It’s time for some youngster to get in there,” Powell added. “It’s their time to shine and do their thing.”

Powell said he is looking forward to retirement, explaining he is excited to be able to spend time visiting his children and grandchildren.

He will be able to see his three children – Kim, Scott and Jill – as well as see his grandson play high school football and in the band as a drummer. He said he got to see his granddaughter cheer at one game, and looks forward to being able to see more.

“(Retirement) will finally free up some time to be able to do that,” he said.