Croft: Coaching Packers was a privilege

Published 9:29 pm Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Jerry Croft throws out the first pitch Tuesday to son Jared when Colquitt County High opened the 2017 season on Ike Aultman Field at Jerry Croft Stadium.

MOULTRIE – Not every high school student can play baseball. But most would want to one day operate a motor vehicle.

So, one way or the other, Jerry Croft was a part of a lot of local students’ experience through those 9th to 12th grade years.

The former driver’s education instructor – and head Packers baseball coach at Moultrie and eventually Colquitt County High for 30 years – is immortalized both at the county and statewide in several ways, such as being a Hall of Famer for Colquitt County athletes and the Georgia Dugout Club. Croft can now add himself among those with an even rarer distinction; his name is on a stadium. That’s the very stadium where the program he once led now calls home.

The original intention, according to Packer Diamond Club president Chip Blalock, was to keep “Jerry Croft Stadium” a secret and surprise the long-time coach and winner of two GHSA championships when the 2017 season began on Feb. 14.

“We had hoped to keep the scoreboard covered and unveil it at the ceremony, but came to the realization that was easier said than done,” said Blalock. “So we had Jerry and Gwen out (on Feb. 4) and showed it to them. He was moved to tears.”

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The dedication carried on Tuesday with former players and members of the Croft family on Ike Aultman Field at Jerry Croft Stadium. Croft threw out the first pitch to someone who fit both categories, his son Jared. Several of Croft’s other contributions to the Colquitt school system and athletics in general could be heard, those things being a basketball official, the public address announcer for Packer football games and, yes, driver’s ed teacher.

“I never expected this,” said Croft, who felt blessed just to get a job in education out of college in the early 1970s. “I didn’t do what I did for any recognition, fame, or anything like that. It was a reward for me to be out there coaching those young guys, and having the privilege to coach at my alma mater for 30 years. That doesn’t happen a lot.”

In genuine humble fashion, Croft deflected the credit for winning 449 games on the diamond to the players and assistant coaches. Nothing changed about his approach to leading from 1977 to 2006. It was Moultrie High School first, and his first assistant was named Rob Williams. The program had 30 to 35 players, 15 would play varsity and the other 15 JV.

“We switched places in the coach’s boxes,” said Croft. “Had a lot of fun with him. I had some other great coaches come along, Keith Croft and Tony Kirkland for years when we won the state championships.”

Another sentiment: “They blessed me more than I them.”

Act with class, and make sure everyone knows their part is important. Those were two other points to associate with Croft.

“I told them all, ‘Enjoy your high school life,'” said Croft. “Enjoy your baseball career. Because you only get one chance to do it. You don’t want 10 years from now to look back and regret playing baseball. You want to say I’m glad I played baseball for the Packers.

“They demonstrated class on the field, class off the field. Every afternoon I looked forward to coming out and coaching all of them. No matter how insignificant they thought their role was, every role was important.

“I had a lot of highlights along the way. Final Four appearances. The highlight that sticks out the most is having the opportunity to coach my own son. He was on that 1997 team. I think I was harder on him than the other players. But I tried to coach my guys like I wanted my own son coached, to be fair to everybody.”