Members
Inductee
JENNINGS, MIKE
JENNINGS, MIKE
Born on September 4, 1938
Gary, IN
May 21, 1997.
Inducted On
May 18, 2003
Location Inducted
Merrillville, IN (Posthumously)
Region Number
1
Gary Wirt
Player
Gary Wirt
1957
Participated in football, basketball, and track in 1954, 1955, and 1956; All-City, All-Conference, and All-State in football; was conference champ in high and low hurdles.
Texas A & M (1 year); Southwestern Missouri State 1961
1961
4-year football letter winner; 3-year starter as fullback and linebacker; at Texas A & M played under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant; transferred to Southwestern Missouri when Bryant left A & M for University of Alabama.
Served as a principal in Portage School District from 1989 until his death.
Coaching Experience: Assistant coach at Gary Wallace 1963-1969 and head coach 1970-1977; head coach at Chesterton HS 1978-1989; 18-year head coach with a 95-81-1 record; resigned from coaching to become an administrator.
Coaching Honors: Region Coach of the Year 1974, 1976, and 1978; won the Northwestern Conference 4 times at Wallace, with a 9-1 record for 1974 team; coached under Indiana Football Hall of Fame inductee Eddie Herbert.
Outstanding Players Coached: Ike Griffin and Jerry Shay of Minnesota Vikings; Rick Fulton of New York Giants.
Coaching Honors: Region Coach of the Year 1974, 1976, and 1978; won the Northwestern Conference 4 times at Wallace, with a 9-1 record for 1974 team; coached under Indiana Football Hall of Fame inductee Eddie Herbert.
Outstanding Players Coached: Ike Griffin and Jerry Shay of Minnesota Vikings; Rick Fulton of New York Giants.