Jay started teaching in 1988 after graduating from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. He was hired to teach Science (with some coaching) at the Antioch Upper Grade School. Over the years he was able to coach several sports for several years including Soccer, Gymnastics, Basketball, Volleyball, Track and Field, and Cross Country.
It was assisting Track and Field in 1989 when he first had a starting pistol put in his hand and was told, “You’re starting the meets.” It was during the Conference Meet in that year when he saw a need for officials when an athlete was clearly and repeatedly blocked from passing in the home stretch of the 800 m run. He continued coaching until 1996, racking up several Conference Championships but most importantly asking for and getting the Antioch Upper Grade School to join the Illinois Elementary School Association and participating in the IESA State Meet.
His first son, Flynn, was born in 1995, and his second son, Will, was born in 1998. That was when he became an official with the IHSA, asked by Jan Welch, the AD at Richmond Burton Community High School. His wife, Beth, a teacher at RB, was asking for help raising two boys, and he was more than happy to trade coaching every day for starting a few meets in April and May. Little did Beth know how things would change.
Jay was informally mentored by the occasional official that he got to work with, but a memorable impact was made by Dick Harland of Antioch. His gentle demeanor, love of the sport, and dedication to the athletes was legendary. Jay was always excited to work with him at Track and Field meets, and Cross Country Meets.
Over the years Jay continued working meets in McHenry County and ever more in Lake County. He has worked at almost every high school in Lake County. He enjoys being recognized and getting looks of appreciation when he arrives for a meet.
He has worked the Lake County Meet for girls and boys, Conference meets for the NSC, and NLCC, and numerous IHSA and IESA Sectional meets in Lake County. He has worked at the IESA State Meet weekends every year they have occurred since 2000, and has been to the IHSA State Meet as a Starter, Field Referee, and Referee, and was selected as the IHSA Girls Track and Field Official of the Year in 2019.
He joined USATF as an official in 2019 so that he could officiate meets for his third son, Reed, that was a walk-on Triple Jumper at the University of Illinois. This led to officiating many meets at Big 10 schools and working the Big 10 Conference meet in 2021. He also received the USATF Outstanding Service Award in 2021. He was elected to the Executive Board of the Illinois Track and Cross Country Officials’ Association in 2021 for a 6 year term. 2022 is Jay’s 25th season as a registered Track & Field Official, and he is happy to just keep going.
“One of the best things about Track and Field are the relationships that I make with other officials, finish line workers, coaches, and athletes. I don’t always remember all the names, but the excitement and accomplishments that I get to be a part of is a great reason to keep doing this for as long as I can.”
