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Hall of Fame: Darrel W. Gourley
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| Darrel W. Gourley |
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| Sport: Coach-Football, Track and Cross Country |
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| Induction: November 6, 1999 |
Darrel Wright Gourley gave 32 years of dedicated coaching and teaching to William Jewell from 1958-1991. Serving under six college presidents and five college deans, Darrel coached track and field, football, cross country, wrestling and golf.
After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Truman State University, Darrel graduated with a master’s degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia. He completed his doctoral studies at Indiana University.
Darrel began his professional athletic career as a high school football coach and principal. His years at William Jewell began in 1958 when he accepted the positions of head track coach, assistant football coach, head wrestling coach, intramural director and physical education instructor.
Darrel’s exemplary coaching abilities enabled his athletes to claim five consecutive Track and Field Championships; they never finished below third place. He served as head track and field coach for 24 years and coached two individual national champion All-Americans.
In addition to track and field, Darrel coached golf for eight years, in which his teams won five conference championships.
He completed two tenures as head wrestling coach, head cross country coach and intramural director. Equally notable, he coached football at Jewell for 18 years and taught physical education as an associate professor for 33 years.
His accolades in the general athletic arena include administering college and high school athletic meets and tournaments on the district, conference and state levels. He also chaired the Coaches Association for the NAIA District 16 and HAAC in both track and golf numerous times. In addition, Northeast Missouri State University inducted Darrel into the Athletic Hall of Fame on September 16, 1989.
Darrel, professor emeritus and now retired, and his wife, Margaret, business teacher at Liberty High School, have three children, Marilyn, Mark, and Jeff, who each have successful careers as athletic coaches and teachers.
Darrel Gourley has given college athletics motivation and determination to excel in sports and academics.
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