JIM GARRY

Jim Garry, graduate, Wake Forest University, is the former “Dean” of WPIAL football coaches. He was Fort Cherry High School’s football coach for 44 years and the School’s only football coach. Jim retired after the 2002 season and completed his career with a 265-153-14 record. A legend in Western Pennsylvania high school football, Jim’s teams were three time WPIAL Class A semifinalists (1987, 1994 and 1999) and two-time WPIAL Runners-up (1997 and 2001).Jim coached Marty Schottenheimer, the current San Diego Chargers coach, and Marvin Lewis, the new coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.In addition, he coached Perry Kemp, who played for the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers, and Brad Tokar and Mike Vernillo, two of the WPIAL’s most prolific running backs in terms of rushing yards

Jim was inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

Jim’s wife, Barbara Lee, died in 1987. They are parents of four children, Kevin, Tim, Shawn and Linda.