11/13/2023 - 

Webster Groves High School Athletic Director Jerry Collins will be retiring at the end of the school year after having served the Webster Groves School District for the last 24 years with the past 19 as the school’s athletic director. During Mr. Collins’ tenure as athletic director, the Statesmen have seen unparalleled success. Webster Groves teams have won 11 State Championships, appeared in 27 Final Fours, won 50 District Championships and have won the distinguished Commissioner’s Cup highlighting the top school in the St. Louis Suburban Conference for Athletic Excellence, twice in the last three years.  

The work he has done hosting events, as well as hiring and supporting coaches, has allowed him to indirectly impact thousands of families for almost two decades at Webster. Cliff Ice, former WGHS football coach and member of the Statesmen Sports Hall of Fame, recalled “… a passion for Statesmen Sports. The consummate professional, meticulous on details. He tirelessly supported students and coaches.” A lengthier effect of his leadership will be the revamping of facilities utilizing both public and private funds at Selma Field, Kopplin Field, and the Moss Athletic Complex. That work will impact over a dozen programs in addition to the upgrades at most other athletic venues that occurred during his tenure.  

WGHS Principal Dr. Matt Irvin stated, “During the pandemic, athletics were the first  in-person settings that returned to requiring a balance of safety and logistics. His ability to juggle off-campus facility access, emerging safety protocols, and event management gave us a glimpse of our ability to return to school.”  Former volleyball coach Helen Buckley shared, “There are not enough superlatives to describe what a great job Jerry did and how much he affected coaches and student-athletes in such a positive manner.”

We would like to thank Jerry for his service to our school district community and wish him much success in his retirement from service in public schools.

A timely search process will be initiated to identify a new leader for our athletic department to serve our students, staff, and community.