March 28, 2024

Lynnville-Sully’s Hulsing is national girls’ basketball coach of the year

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Coaching is teaching.

Jerry Hulsing admits the only direction he had when he graduated from high school was he wanted to coach and follow his interest in business. He combined those two by going into education.

For 24 years, Hulsing has taught on the court as Lynnville-Sully’s head girls’ basketball coach. The Hawk girls’ basketball program has flourished under Hulsing’s guidance with conference and state titles.

Hulsing collected a new piece of coaching hardware on June 29. He was named National Girls Basketball Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association at its national convention in Louisville, Ky.

“I’m so honored and humbled with this award,” Hulsing said “My name is on the award, but it belongs to all the girls I’ve coached through years.”

Hulsing was one of eight finalist for the national award. Hulsing was selected for the national honor by the Iowa Girls Coaches’ Association. The NHSACA names national coach of the years in 19 sports.

“I had to take a step back when they announced my name. I couldn’t believe it,” Hulsing said. “To be one of the finalists was special, but to win the award is an amazing feeling.”

Lynnville-Sully has eight South Iowa Cedar League conference titles under Hulsing. The girls’ basketball program has had nine trips to the Iowa 1A state basketball tournament, winning three straight state titles in 1997, 1998 and 1999. The Hawks were runner up in 1996.

The Hawks have been to the state tournament in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. They lost in a regional championship game in 2015 after going 19-1 in the SICL and 22-2 overall.

Hulsing was voted 2016 Class 1A Southeast District coach of the year by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. He was named the 2015-16 SICL Coach of the Year.

The Hawks went 15-1 in SICL play, tying with Montezuma atop the SICL West. They lost the conference title game against the SICL East champion Iowa Valley. Lynnville-Sully (21-3) lost to Kee in the regional final and were ranked 14th at the end of the regular season.

“All of that is because of all the girls I’ve had the pleasure of coaching over the years. The girls at Lynnville-Sully are awesome and they work hard every year for us,” Hulsing said. “It’s a great community to be a part of and the community support is tremendous for all their activities.”

Hulsing grew up in Rockwell and is a 1985 graduate of Rockwell-Swadedale High School. He said he didn’t know what he was going to do after high school.

Hulsing said his high school football coach, Tom Lewis, and junior high social studies teacher and basketball coach, Tim Turner, influenced him a great deal. He said both cared for the kids and built great relationships, which he wanted to do as a coach.

“I wanted to do something in business and had a desire to coach,” Hulsing said. “I’m fortunate to being both as a teacher and coach.”

Hulsing teaches high school business in Grinnell, where he and his family live. He said when he moved to Grinnell, he was looking for substitute teaching positions and to get into coaching. Hulsing found opportunities in the Lynnville-Sully school district.

His coaching career at Lynnville-Sully started as the junior high boys’ basketball coach for the first year. When the high school girls’ basketball heading coaching position became available, Hulsing applied.

“It doesn’t feel like 24 years,” Hulsing said. “As a young coach at Lynnville-Sully, I had two very good mentors in Duane Brand, who was the athletic director my first years there, and the Lynnville-Sully boys’ basketball coach Glenn Fiihr. They both were great sources of help. I learned on them a lot and valued their guidance.”

Hulsing said he loves the game of basketball from the breaking down of film and game planning to coaching on the sidelines during games. He said the best part of it all is the relationships he has built with the hundred of girls he has coached in the Lynnville-Sully program.

“The girls are what made this a great program over the years. I love watching the kids succeed not just with wins, but having positive outcomes from their hard work. That will carry over into other aspects of their lives.”

Hulsing and his wife, Jill, have teaching and coaching in common. Jill is an eighth-grade reading and language teacher in Grinnell and coaches softball in the BGM district in Brooklyn. The Hulsings have four children.

“My family has always been very supportive. They love going to Lynnville-Sully basketball games. Over the years, I’ve had to miss my children’s basketball games, and I’ve asked if they wanted me to give up my coaching. They’ve said no,” Hulsing said. “They all share in this award.”

Hulsing said he is set for year No. 25 at the helm of the Lynnville-Sully girls’ basketball program. He said the Hawk girls have been working in the offseason toward becoming better for the 2016-17 season.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com