The Official Athletic Website of Highland Community College

Jerre Cole was named Athletic Director at Highland Community College on June 1, 2023. He moves into that position after spending 14 seasons as the head men’s basketball coach at HCC where he is the all-time winningest coach with 251 wins. Cole led the Scotties to two KJCCC D-II Championships, two Region VI titles, and two NJCAA D-II National Tournament appearances. IN 2018-19, the Scotties achieved HCC’s first-ever #1 national ranking in any sport and a record 28 season wins.
 
Cole is an alum of HCC, playing for the Scotties from 1989-91. Upon graduating from HCC, he transferred to Missouri Valley College where he helped guide the Vikings to the NAIA D-II National Tournament and a top-10 national ranking. After graduation from MVC, he attended Emporia State University where he served as a graduate assistant and finished his Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology.
 
Prior to returning to HCC, Cole was the head men’s basketball coach at Lamar State College-Port Arthur for one season. He served as the top assistant at Garden City Community College for two seasons. Before Garden City, Cole was an assistant at Arizona Western College for one season, helping the Matadors to a Region I championship and a run to the Elite Eight in the NJCAA D-I National Tournament.
 
Cole’s first head coaching position was for four years at Peru State College in Peru, Neb. During his time with the Bobcats, he recruited and coached four NAIA All-Americans. From 1996-2001, he served as the top assistant at Porterville College in California. While at PC, the Pirates amassed a 147-22 overall record and won the 2000 California Community College State Championship.
 
Cole is married to the former Kimberly Strangmeier and has two children, Claire (19) and Jackson (13). They reside in Highland.