Hall of Fame
Jerome Walczak has made many contributions to high school athletics, particularly football, where he has won more games as a Section III head coach than any other in history.
He broke into the coaching scene in 1969 and quickly found success with Dolgeville’s football program as he guided the Blue Devils to a 6-0 record and league title in his rookie campaign. Since he first walked on the field, he has compiled a sparkling career record of 264-37-11 until his retirement in 2002. Along the way, Coach Walczak’s teams have won 24 league championships, including a current record of 12 consecutive years, and a record 14 Sectional titles, including seven in a row from 1989-1995. He had 11 undefeated seasons while enduring only one losing season in his 34-year tenure. Beyond sectionals, Coach Walczak has captured four Regional Championships (1995, 1998, 2000, 2002) and one State Championship in 2000 when the team went 13-0. More impressively, Coach Walczak owns Section III’s longest unbeaten streak of 41 games which spanned from 1990-1994. He has stamped Dolgeville as a Class D powerhouse over three decades and has had the privilege to coach 11 First Team All State selections since 1993.
A graduate of Herkimer High School in 1962, Coach Walczak continued on to play tight end and linebacker at Ithaca College where he graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor’s degree in physical education. That same year, he was hired by Dolgeville as a physical education teacher for the next three years until he was appointed head football coach and athletic director in 1969.