Rock Valley College Athletics

Volleyball, Softball and Women's Basketball (1965-1993)

Simply put, Geraldine (Gerry) McDermott initiated women's sports at RVC. She spent nearly 30 years at Rock Valley College as an instructor of Physical Education, coach and Women's Athletic Director.   

She started the women's athletic program shortly after the school opened and built it through difficult beginnings.  Because of  Gerry's persistence, Rock Valley College has one of the longest running women's athletic programs at the community college level in the state of Illinois.  From 1966 until 1989, Gerry served as Women's Athletic Director, served as volleyball and softball coach every year, and taught a full load of Physical Education and Health courses.  

Gerry's softball teams won four North Central Community College Conference championships and a Region IV championship in 1984, a season which saw her voted the Region Coach of the Year.  

Her volleyball squads also garnered numerous honors, including three state runners-up finishes, Midwest regional runner-up, and runner-up in the 1978 NJCAA sectionals.   

Gerry produced three All-Americans and over 100 athletes who earned all-conference or all-region honors.  Thirty-five of her players went on to play at four-year schools.   

Gerry was also instrumental in promoting women's athletics at the national level.  She served as the Director of Women's Athletics for Region IV from 1979 to 1983 and was the first community college representative to the College Intercollegiate Athletic Association for Women.