Jack Stromberger

Jack Stromberger was a teacher/coach/administrator at Washington Community High School from 1956 to 1991.  He was involved in Washington athletics throughout his employment, working his way up from a full-time teacher/assistant coach in football and track to the head coach of three different sports, and then to Athletic Director, a position he held for 25 years (1966-1991).  During his time as AD, Jack also served as the PE department head and the ticket manager.  For some years, he also taught civics alongside his P.E. load and administrative responsibilities.  He is the longest-serving Athletic Director in WaCoHi history.  He took over the Athletic Directorship in 1966 from Dick Van Scyoc, who had left for Peoria Manual.  However, even before 1966, he was working with Mr. Van Scyoc in a pseudo-assistant AD capacity.  Upon his hiring as Athletic Director, Jack relinquished most of his coaching duties.  Later in his career, he assumed a full-time administrative role as head of athletics, facilities, and transportation.

Some of the greatest athletic achievements for the school under his watch are listed below:

• Girls’ sports were introduced during the 1974-75 school year, and Jack, as Athletic Director, was in charge of the implementation of the first girls’ programs at the school.  From scheduling to facilities to equipment to transportation needs, the heavy load added to the WaCoHi infrastructure was handled seamlessly, and girls had their first opportunity to compete inter-scholastically.  The girls’ athletic programs at WaCoHi have provided tremendous benefits to participants, coaches, and the community over the years.

• During the 1976-77 school year, Jack pioneered the implementation of a co-ed physical education program offering activities like dance, horseshoes, table tennis, and archery, along with the standard physical education sports.  The program, which faced resistance from some parents, was groundbreaking for the time.

• The school was ahead of the curve with the replacement of the cinder track with an all-weather surface.

• Jack was instrumental in the creation and implementation of the Mid-Illini Conference.  The late 1970s were a time of conference unrest.  Washington left the Heart of Illinois Conference due to travel distance concerns and joined the Mid-State 10.  That conference proved beneficial in some ways, but the newer schools struggled to get their voices heard over long-time District 150 members.  That led to many conversations not long after joining the MS10 about returning to a conference of suburban schools.  Following many discussions among Jack and the other founding members, the new conference was born in the early 1980s and has since blossomed into one of the state’s premier high school conferences.  It has been a tremendous fit for Washington, maintaining long-time rivalries and providing the community with countless opportunities and memories.

• Jack oversaw and dealt with the construction of the soccer field in the late 1980s. Despite unforeseeable setbacks, he saw the project through, and it is still the home of Panther Soccer.

• Except for 1977, Washington held a fall Basketball Tip-Off Tourney every year of Jack’s AD tenure.  He was the sole tournament manager, some years bringing teams from Chicago, other years featuring strictly local schools.  That small four-team tournament from the early days has since evolved into the current Tournament of Champions, which receives national attention. 

Jack had a tremendous relationship with his coaches.  He defended them, and they respected him in return.  Jack has always said that one of the toughest days of his professional career was gathering the coaches together to announce his retirement.  He was all about relationships, from his coaches to later his custodians and bus drivers.  He had a special bond with them, and in later days, when they ran into each other, you could see the faces light up.  In addition, his feedback and influence had a hand in hiring some of the finest coaches Washington has ever had.

Coaching Tenure:

• Golf coach for 21 years (1965-1986), and his 1971 team qualified for state.

• Track coach 10 years (1957-1966), head coach for most of that time.

• Football Coach 10 years (1956-1965), head coach 5 years (1961-1965).  During Jack’s time as head coach, the football field was moved from its old site east of the school to its current site.  The new field was dedicated in 1962. 

Awards, Honors, & Recognitions:

• 1974 Regional Athletic Director of the Year from the Illinois Association of Athletic Directors

• 1980 Regional Athletic Director of the Year from the National High School Athletic Directors’ Association

• 1990 Panther Pride Award winner

• 1998 WCHS Football 75th Anniversary Appreciation Award

• 2003 Recognition at 100 Year Celebration of Panther Basketball

• 2004 Lifetime Recognition Award from WCHS

• 2008 Recognition of Jack & wife Judy at the WCHS softball game for a significant monetary donation

• 2015 Honorary coin flipper along with Ray Torry at the first Alumni football game with Metamora

• 2018 Member of the inaugural class of Washington High School Hall of Fame

A U.S. Army veteran, Jack passed away in April 2020 of natural causes during the height of the COVID lockdowns at the age of 88.