RU Game: Long-time ACGC coach, teacher Ness inducted into Falcons’ Hall of Fame

ACGC honored retired teacher and coach Jerry Ness before the Falcons’ football on Sept. 11.
Ness was inducted into the ACGC Hall of Fame.
Ness started his teaching and coaching career at Atwater in 1973 and retired from teaching 2007.
Ness was an assistant wrestling coach for three years, from 1973 to 1975, served as an assistant football coach from 1976 to 1985, and he coached junior high football from 1986 to 1992 and 2001 to 2006.
Ness also was the Falcons’ head boys track and field coach from 1974 to 2010. Ness was twice named the Section 5A Coach of the Year and in 2001 was named the state Class A Coach of the Year.
Every boys track record, except one, was broken during his coaching career, and he won 25 conference championships.
His teams won the state meet in 1992, placed second in 2001 and were third in 1989.
The Falcons also earned fourth- and fifth-place finishes in the State True Team Meet.
Ness coached four individual state shampions: Rand Roeske in the 400 meter, Brandon Mortenson in the 800, Shane Hoag in the Triple Jump and Kent Anderson in the 110 and 300 meter hurdles.