Jerome named cross country and skiing coach

Submitted by Scott Wilson
Phone: (907) 474-6807
05/05/04

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Athletics has named Scott Jerome as the new Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Nordic Ski Coach. The announcement follows a nationwide search of candidates.

Jerome has been head cross country and Nordic ski coach at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. for the past four seasons.

"I am thrilled to be in Fairbanks coaching cross country running and skiing, and will do my best to continue the strong tradition of success at UAF," Jerome said.

This past season, Jerome led the men’s cross country team to an 8th place finish at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Championships and a 16th place finish at the NCAA National Championships. The Gustavus women’s team won the MIAC Team Championship and finished 12th at the NCAA Championships. Jerome was named MIAC Coach of the Year in each of the last three seasons.

In skiing, the GAC men and women each finished in fourth place at the Central Collegiate Ski Association Championships.

"Scott Jerome is the perfect fit for our program at this time," said Athletic and Recreation Director Cory Schwartz. "His energy, enthusiasm and desire to succeed are unparalleled and we are fortunate to have someone with Scott’s skills at our university. He will be a tremendous addition to our staff and to our community."

Jerome graduated from Bates College in 1983, after which he started his coaching career as the assistant Nordic skiing coach and director of public relations at Gould Academy, a college preparatory school in Bethel, Maine. In 1997, Jerome left Maine for Michigan where he served as a graduate assistant to Sten Fjeldheim with the Nordic skiing and cross-country running programs at Northern Michigan University. Jerome earned his Master’s Degree in Exercise Science in the summer of 2000 prior to beginning his first collegiate head coaching responsibilities at Gustavus.

Jerome, his wife Denise, and two children Emma and Alden, are expected to arrive in Fairbanks August 1.