| Membership level: Hall of Fame Jerilyn Scardina Inductee Year 2011 |  |
| Mrs. Jerilyn Scardina graduated from Morton West High School in 1971, prior to the passing of Title IX, which dramatically improved the opportunities for women to participate in athletics. In many ways she was ahead of her time; not only did she participate in the usual; activities for girls (cheerleading, tumbling, swimming, and ski club), but she also had the opportunity to compete for the United States Gymnastic Federation team. She began her career at Hinsdale Central her first year out of Western Illinois University ('75) where she earned a BS in Physical Education and was a member of the gymnastics team. She began as a substitute teacher in District 86 while also teaching aerobics and fitness classes at the Chicago Health Club in Oak Brook, as well as judging high school and USGF gymnastics meets. She was soon asked to join the staff as a paraprofessional and gymnastics coach, and the following (1977) she began her 34-year career as a Physical Education teacher. At the last minute there was an opening for the girls' varsity tennis coach position, so legendary Hinsdale Coach and Athletic Director Harvey Dickinson asked if she had any experience and could handle that position as well. While she had played in leagues and taken lessons, she had never coached the sport. What she did bring to the table, however, was a background of being a female who had experience at the competitive and collegiate level in an independent sport, which was a valuable commodity at the time. Despite her lack of coaching experience, her record would prove to speak for itself. Since 1977, Jerilyn has coached Hinsdale tennis teams to11 state team championships, 29 sectional titles and 22 WSC team championships, completing her career with a 406-26 won/loss record. She is proud to have been part of coaching six individual state champions. She also coached girls the gymnastic team from 1976-1985, and served as an Assistant Athletic Director from 1991-2010. She was elected to the Illinois Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001 and was named National High School Girls Tennis Coach of the Year in 2007 as well as the Illinois Coach of the Year in 1999. She received the Alumni Achievement award from Western Illinois University in December 2010. She makes her home in Burr Ridge, with her husband of 27 years, Rich Scardina, with whom she has two grown children, Christy and Ricky. |
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