Hall of Fame
Back To Hall of Fame
Back To Hall of Fame
Darrel Gourley gave 32 years of dedicated coaching and teaching to William Jewell from 1958-1991. Serving under six college presidents and five college deans, he coached track and field, football, cross country, wrestling and golf leading Cardinal teams to an incredible 42 conference titles. He also has four teams which have been inducted into the Hall of Fame: 1961, 1963 and 1976 cross country as well as the 1977 men's track and field team.
Gourley's exemplary coaching abilities enabled his athletes to claim five consecutive track and field championships never finishing below third place. He served as the head track and field coach for 24 years and coached two individual national champions.
In addition to track and field, he coached golf for eight years, in which his teams won five conference championships, wrestling for four seasons, and was the assistant football coach for 18 years while teaching in the physical education department 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 (now Truman State) inducted Gourley into their Athletic Hall of Fame on September 16, 1989.
After receiving his bachelor's degree in education from Truman State University, he graduated with a master’s degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia.He began his professional athletic career as a high school football coach and principal.
Gourley, who passed in May 2020, was married to his wife, Margaret, business teacher at Liberty High School, for 59 years with whom he has three children, Marilyn, Mark, and Jeff, who each have successful careers as athletic coaches and teachers. Following her death, he married Vonda Johnson in 2007.
Back To Hall of Fame
