Slippery Rock University Athletics

Jim Perry of Cheswick, Pennsylvania graduated from Etna High School which is now part of Shaler area High School.  He attended Slippery Rock State College in 1963 where he majored in Health and Physical Education.  He returned for his master’s degree in 1968 and studied to get his M.S. in Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

While at Slippery Rock, Perry played baseball for two years and in the 1962 season, his senior year, Perry played soccer for the Hall of Fame Coach, Jim Egli.  This was also the same season that Perry earned a varsity letter.

After college, he went on to teach Health and Physical Education in Fox Chapel Area School District from 1963 through 1999, when he retired after 36 years of teaching. 
In conjunction with teaching, he also was the Assistant Soccer Coach at Fox Chapel from 1964-1971 when the team was WPIAL Champions in both 1964 and 1967.
From 1972 to 1990, a total of 19 years, Perry was the Head Soccer Coach.  Over the course of his career the team had 257 wins, 85 losses, and 24 ties.  The team went to the District 7 WPIAL AAA Play-offs 15 out of the 19 years he coached, made it to the “Final 4” in ‘81, ‘85, ‘86, ‘87, and ’90, were the AAA Runner-Up in ’85, and were the AAA Champion in ‘87.  They were Section Champions in ‘81, ‘82, ‘83, ‘84, ‘85, ‘86, ‘87, ‘89, and ‘90.  The team made it to the PIAA State Playoffs in ‘85, ‘86, ‘87, and ’90, were the State Runner-Up in ’87, and the State Champion in ’90 with the #5 National Ranking in USA TODAY and NSCAA. 

He coached 60 WPIAL District 7 All Stars, 12 All State Players, 6 NSCAA All Americans; one being National and five being Regional, and two “Gatorade Players of the Year” for Pennsylvania: Pete Daigle in 1985 and Brad Wilson in 1990.

In ’87 and ’90, Perry was awarded “Coach of the Year” in the WPIAL District 7.

Also, adding to his accomplishments, he coached the U.S. All Star Team in 1985 in the Dapper Dan Soccer Classic, the Fox Chapel 7th & 8th grade team from 1993-1999, and was the Volunteer Assistant Soccer Coach at Fox Chapel High School from 2000-2005. 

Perry holds a U.S. Soccer Federation National “A” Coaching License, was the PA West “State Youth Coach of the Year” in 1988 with the Beadling Soccer Club, was inducted into the PA Sports Hall of Fame (Western Chapter) in 1992, the Fox Chapel Sports Hall of Fame in 1999, the PA Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Alle-Kliski Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

He also received the “Honor Award” from the Western PA Soccer Coaches Association in 2003 for contributions and support of high school soccer. 
Perry was a Staff coach for PA West Boys Olympic Development Program from its’ inception in 1977 to 2009 and was the State Coach in charge of all PA West Boys Olympic Development Programs teams for 15 years.

He founded the WPIAL Soccer Coaches Association All Star Game in 1987.

Perry was a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) for over 35 years and the NSCAA High School All American Selection Committee in PA from 1992-2004. 
He was an instructor for PA West Soccer Association “Coaches Licensing Program” from 1980-2004, a frequent clinician at the annual PA West Soccer Workshops, an instrumental in establishing the Fox Chapel Youth Soccer Organization in the early 70’s and in the organization of the Western PA State Youth Soccer Organization in the early 70’s, founded the Fox Chapel Soccer Camp in 1975 and the Tri State Soccer School (Edinboro University of Pennsylvania) in 1982.

From 1968 through 1992, Perry was a NISOA collegiate soccer referee where he refereed several NAIA and NCAA play-off games during his 24 years.  After his service, he received a “Certificate of Appreciation” in 2005 for contributions and support of the NISOA. 

Now, a retired man, he enjoys the company of his wife of 48 years, Becky Hutchinson, a graduate of Slippery Rock State College in 1963.  He also has three children: Mark, Laurie (Szymkowiak), and Beth (Essey).  Aside from immediate family he has six grandchildren: Justin, Tyler and Ryan Szymkowiak, Katelyn, Margeaux, and Hanna Essey.