Jerry is completing his 42nd year teaching and his 25th year as the head tennis coach for the Men’s and Women’s tennis teams at Graceland University. Coach Hampton has developed one of the strongest small college tennis programs in the Heart of America Conference and the entire nation. Hampton led the Yellowjackets to the Men’s HACC Championship for the twelfth time and the Women’s team completed one of their best seasons as they steadily improve. Hampton has received HACC Coach of the year 12 times and Regional coach of the year 2 times in the three years it has been in existence.

Coach Hampton has also served as the Head Coach of the Graceland Football & Wrestling Teams, and represented the United States of America as a Team Leader for NAIA/AAU wrestlers on a trip to Japan and Korea.

A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, he received his undergraduate degree in Physical Education from William Jewel College in 1954; his Master’s degree at Northwest Missouri State University in 1958; a Doctorate from Columbia University in New York City in 1970. After a two year stint in the army he taught in Albuquerque, New Mexico and St Joseph, Missouri before coming to teach at Graceland in 1960.

His 12 HAAC titles are the most of any coach in Yellowjacket history. His 2002 Men’s Team won a record 18 matches, including the conference and Regional titles and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament during the spring 2002 season.

Since he took over the Graceland tennis program, Hampton has led the Men’s team to a 192-84 record.

Hampton’s Men’s Team have garnered 12 HAAC Championships and 2 0f the 3 Regional Championships and numerous team and individual appearances in the NAIA National Tournament. The Graceland Yellowjackets are usually ranked in the top twenty teams in the NAIA.

Over that same period of time the Women’s Team has put together a record of 113 wins and 160 losses. They have won 2 HACC Championships, one reional championship and 2 appearances in the NAIA National Tournament. The Women’s team has been making rapid improvement in the last few years. Coach Hampton’s goal is to bring the Graceland University women’s tennis team up to the premier status of the men’s team.