Jack Souther

At age 81, Coach Jack Souther is the most senior member of Lee’s faculty. He is also one of the most well-respected and well-known coaches in the history of Lee athletics.

In his 25th year at Lee, Souther has coached girls’ basketball, softball and golf - all with winning seasons and appearances at national tournaments. All this, when he didn’t even intend to stay in Cleveland.

Prior to coming to Lee, Souther held many positions in his 37 years as a teacher and administrator of Warren County Schools in Ohio. He taught eighth grade, was an elementary principal, supervisor of the county, and superintendent of the county.

Additionally, and what led to his career at Lee, Souther was refereeing college and high school basketball games in Ohio.

Souther was recruited to Lee’s faculty in 1982 by then-president Ray Hughes who had heard Souther was retiring from his career in public education. “I said to my wife, we’ll do this for a year, and then we’ll travel,” said Souther. Since then, they’ve thought about moving but “the urge was never strong enough.” The Southers have found a home at Lee.

Initially, Souther was recruited to coach the girls’ basketball team. Under his leadership for ten years, the team won 220 games, only losing 160. They went to nationals nine out of his ten years, winning the tournament once. They never came in lower than third place.

During his tenure as basketball coach, Souther started the girls’ fast-pitch softball program which he coached for three years. “No one here had ever played fast-pitch,” said Souther. “So, I went out and got two pitchers and we’ve always played a good schedule.”

Now, Souther is coaching our nationally-ranked golf team and has been for 14 years. The team has gone to nationals 4 years in a row and last year won 11 out of 13 tournaments they played in. They also placed 15th in the nation.

Throughout all of this, Souther’s wife of 58 years, Jean, has been his and the teams’ biggest cheerleader. “I remember one time,” said Souther laughing. “The basketball team went to Bryan and there was no one there but the two teams. The refs came up and said this should be an easy night since there wasn’t any crowd. I said, ‘No. You see that blonde up there? If you throw that ball wrong, she’ll be after you.’ And sure enough, they did and she was. She’s been a real supporter of the teams.”

In his years at Lee, Souther has witnessed many changes to the campus and Lee’s way of life. As intramural director, Souther remembers having no communication with the campus to schedule the games, so he would get a bullhorn and go to the roof of the cafeteria and announce game schedules.

In honor of his many years and many achievements at Lee, in 2006, Souther Field was dedicated to him for use in intramural athletics.

“I know that when those kids are on that field, they’re not getting into the trouble they could be,” said Souther. “There’s a lot of kids that use that field. It’s been an honor, and it means a lot to me. I make a special trip at night to go by and see all the young people out there.”

Those young people are what keep Souther loving his job and Lee. “I like to be around young people. When you’re around young people, it keeps you young. Now, sometimes it can drive you crazy,” said Souther.

Souther and his wife Jean, have three children, all Lee grads.

Posted on - 10/14/07