—Messenger file photo jerry einwalter (center) stands with Hans Goetsch (left) and Don Miller (right) after receiving a IWCOA Hall of Fame award in 2021.

Don Miller will always remember his good friend Jerry Einwalter as the “gold standard” of assistant coaching.

Einwalter, a long-time teacher and mentor in the Fort Dodge Community School District, died on Sunday in Peoria, Ariz. He was 87 years old.

Einwaler joined Miller on a staff that directed the Dodgers through the wrestling program’s glory years in the 1970s and ’80s. He served as an assistant to Miller from 1974-85, following a successful stint as the South Junior High wrestling coach.

Einwalter filled a number of roles in his three decades with the FDCSD.

“Not many out there better than Jerry,” said Miller, the Dodgers’ Hall of Fame head coach who led the 1980 and 1985 squads to state championships. “He was kind to everyone and would do anything for the kids, whether it was preparing them for the classroom or the mat – because he knew he was getting them ready for the real world.

“He was as loyal as a lab pup. The kids respected him and appreciated his perspective, and I knew I could trust him. He was like a brother to me.”

Miller, Einwalter and Hans Goettsch coached the Dodgers to an overall record of 133-49-3 with two state titles, two runner-up showings and 11 district championships. The Dodgers placed in the Top-10 at state in all but one of those seasons, had 99 individual state qualifiers, earned seven Big 8 Conference crowns, and directed six different wrestlers – Joe Zuspann (1974), Mitch Sterns (1976), Randy Clark (1977), Ted Camamo (1982), Tim Ascherl (1985) and Randy Ewing (1985) – to individual gold.

Einwalter was named the state of Iowa’s assistant of the year in 1976 and 1985. In 2021, the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association presented him with the Gold Standard Assistant Coaches Award at their Hall of Fame ceremony.

“We were a family, and Jerry was a big part of creating that (atmosphere),” Miller said. “The wrestling room was our living room. What happened there stayed there. You respected the rules and were a part of something bigger than yourself.

“He wanted what was best for each kid, even if maybe they didn’t see it that way (in the moment). Sometimes it had to be tough love. But I greatly appreciated the fact that his heart was in the right place, and I think our wrestlers did, too.”

Einwalter’s life stretched far beyond the wrestling room and the classroom, where he taught biology and later social studies. In 1985, he became director of the Gordon Willard Center for Alternative Education in Fort Dodge – a position he held until his retirement in 1998.

Einwalter served as president of the Iowa Association of Alternative Education in 1991.

Miller noted Einwalter worked tirelessly to advance the sport of wrestling and better the Fort Dodge community in general.

“Jerry was there many autumn Saturdays, helping Iowa State raise funds for their program,” Miller said. “He became friends with coaches like Dr. Harold Nichols and Les Anderson. He was a long-time clinician at the Iowa Central camps that Dennie Friederichs and I ran. He also did the radio broadcast for Fort Dodge and the area at the state tournament and worked (locally) with (Friederichs), a Hall of Famer in his own right, for home and even away meets.

“He volunteered for the Dodger Relays (track meet), state cross country, and joined the local Sertoma Club, which raises money for speech and hearing needs of children. He was named Sertoman of the Year for all of his hard work. And he mentored students (going into education through Buena Vista University) in retirement.”

Einwalter is survived by his wife, Kieran, and sons Kyle and Chad, along with grandsons Gannon and Colton and siblings Lois (Jack) Bradford and Dale (Chris) Einwalter. Memorials may be left to the Iowa Association of Alternative Education (IAAE).

Memorial visitation will be at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 16, with the service to follow at the Gunderson Funeral Home Chapel.