A longtime member of the Athletic Department and the Iowa basketball staff, Jerry Strom is in his 33rd season as a member of the University of Iowa basketball staff.
Strom joined the Iowa staff in 1981 as a graduate assistant coach under Lute Olson. He served in that capacity for two years prior to being promoted to his basketball administrative position in 1983.
Strom works closely with the Hawkeye basketball staff, helping to coordinate travel and carry out the day-to-day activities of Iowa basketball program. Strom helped implement and was tournament director for Iowa’s Hawkeye Challenge for 26 years, and for six years did color commentary with Jim Zabel for Iowa basketball on the Palmer Radio Network.
When Strom first joined the Iowa staff he implemented the school’s first Iowa Basketball Coaches Clinic, as well as bringing in and directing the 1988 national 19-and-under AAU Tournament, held in Iowa City. He has been a member of six basketball staffs that have competed in 25 NCAA and NIT tournaments.
Strom has served on the Iowa athletic department’s Student Athlete Assistance Program. He is a 35-year member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and has served on a number of NABC committees.
Strom came to Iowa from Monmouth College, where he was assistant to the athletic director, as well as assistant basketball and baseball coach from 1979-81. The 1979 Monmouth baseball squad competed in the NCAA Division III College World Series and the Monmouth basketball team won the Midwest Conference basketball championship.
Strom was athletic director, head basketball and track coach at Martin Luther King High School in New York City for four years. His 1976 King squad won the New York City Thru-way City League championship and his track squads were three-time League city champions.
Strom graduated from Fontanelle (IA) High School, where he earned all-state honors in basketball, football and baseball, as well as being selected to Iowa Boys State. He attended Concordia (NE) College, where he played basketball, baseball and golf. Jerry earned his master’s degree (athletic administration) from Western Illinois in 1980 and worked towards his doctoral degree at Iowa.
Jerry was born March 1, 1953. He and his wife, Melody, have a daughter (Jessica, 26) and a son (Justin, 25).