Jerry DeLaurenti

During a girls basketball coaching career at Puyallup High School spanning from 1968-94, Jerry DeLaurenti put together an enviable record that included more than 450 victories, including 77 in a row. DeLaurenti was born Oct. 29, 1942 in Seattle, played on the Clark Coal and Oil team that won the 1960 Connie Mack World Series, and later graduated from the University of Washington. He came to Puyallup High School to teach and coach, and in addition to leading the girls basketball program also coached football and baseball. It was in girls basketball, however, that he made his coaching mark. During his tenure at PHS, the Vikings won six South Puget Sound League titles, four West Central District championships, and placed at the state tournament on five occasions. During one 12-year stretch, his teams advanced to the state basketball tournament 11 times. DeLaurenti earned league Coach of the Year honors four times and All-Area Coach of the Year two other occasions. He was voted by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer as one of the Top 10 coaches of the past century. After leaving Puyallup High, DeLaurenti coaches boys basketball at Orting High School from 1994-98, earning Nisqually League Coach of the Year honors for the 1994-95 season. He continues to coach baseball and football at Orting High School.