Jerry Roling reflects on outstanding baseball career

DUBUQUE - Behind every great team is a great coach and Wahlert recently saw one of the greatest coaches in school history retire.

Jerry Roling announced in December he would step down as head coach of the varsity baseball team after 44 years of coaching and more than 1,000 career victories.

So how does such success come about? It begins early.

'Early on in high school, I knew I wanted to become a coach,” Roling said. 'I had a passion for sports and wanted to make that my profession.”

Roling's coaching career began at the now closed Holy Cross Leo, where he spent five years. Roling coached at Cascade for the next 29 years before coming to Wahlert for the past 10 years.

Over the course of his career, Roling has guided teams to the state tournament five times, including last season.

All of this experience translated to a wealth of knowledge about the game of baseball. When asked what exactly makes Roling such a great coach, 'knowledge of the game” was the common response by those who played under him over the past few seasons.

'All of his experience over the course of his career benefits us because he passes on all that he knows so that we can improve,” said junior Austin Savary.

'For me the greatest part of coaching has been the relationships that I have made with players, parents and coaches over the years,” Roling said. 'To be able to teach the players the game and help them become better people and more productive citizens is what it's all about.”

Roling's attitude toward the game and his players has left a profound impact on those he has coached and the communities he has coached in.

'He was basically the caregiver of the team in that he took each of us under his wing and helped us with whatever we needed him for, baseball related or not,” Savary said.

Senior Judd White said Roling ”keeps you humble by always finding ways for you to improve not just as a baseball player but as a person.”

Roling has made a lasting impact on the field as well as off. His career was highlighted by a 1,022-527 record, 2012 National High School Athletic Coaches' Association Coach of the Year Award and induction into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches' Hall of Fame.

However, his most prominent impact has been made through the relationships he has formed over the last 44 years. He spoke of how excited he is to continue as a volunteer, noting how Coach Kory Tuescher has stated he will continue to welcome any help Roling would be willing to give.

'I would like to continue sharing my knowledge with high school players,” Roling said. 'I appreciate him allowing me to continue in that capacity.”

The people of Holy Cross, Cascade and Dubuque will certainly miss seeing Roling's face in the dugout from now on, whether they are playing for him, playing against him or in the stands.

However, one thing is for sure: we have not seen the last of Jerry Roling.