This story was posted at Wildcatville on Aug. 21, 2020. The
McMinnville N-R/News-Register photo on the left shows Larry Hermo wearing a mask. Added here is photo on the right taken March 25, 2023, showing Larry without a mask.
Y-C’s
‘Father of the Final Four’ deserves Oregon Hall
= Tom Jernstedt died Sept 6, 2020.
= Story from McMinnville N-R/News-Register
extensively quotes and provides information about Larry Hermo, Linfield Class
of 1959 and earned Master of Arts degree in 1966.
=Cutline for N-R photo: Larry Hermo, former
Yamhill-Carlton head baseball coach, holds up a magazine article highlighting
his former ace pitcher, Tom Jernstedt. Jernstedt, who proved instrumental in
the creation and format of the current NCAA Division I men’s basketball
tournament, is being inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
Read more about Larry here:
http://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2012/11/larry-hermo-linfield-class-of-1959-was.html
= Text for N-R story which appears in 8/21/2020
McMinnville N-R/News-Register print edition:
For the past three years, former Yamhill-Carlton
baseball coach Larry Hermo fought tirelessly for his ex-player Tom Jernstedt’s
inclusion in the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. Jernstedt, one of the state’s
grandest sports personalities, failed to receive enough votes in 2018 and 2019.
His prospects took an upturn this year, however,
thanks to his coach’s efforts.
While the in-person Hall of Fame banquet remains
in jeopardy due to COVID-19, a virtual presentation of this year’s inductees
will finally include “Mr. Final Four.”
A televised event in September will give
Oregonians a glimpse into the life and career of the Carlton native who played
a pivotal role in the growth of the NCAA’s men’s basketball tournament known as
March Madness.
“I’m very, very honored to be enshrined in the
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame,” said Jernstedt.
Larry Hermo first met 17-year old Tom Jernstedt
shortly after accepting the head baseball position at Yamhill-Carlton High
School in 1962.
“When I arrived in Yamhill, I was told the team
had a star pitcher who threw four no-hitters the previous year,” recalled
Hermo.
That pitcher, Jernstedt, instilled fear into
opposing batters with his fiery fastball and a mythical curveball. Under
Hermo’s tutelage, Jernstedt tossed three more no-no’s in his junior campaign.
A year later, Jernstedt’s meteoric rise as a three-sport
athlete – football, basketball and baseball – led the News-Register to write,
“Everything he does is great!”
Hermo added, “He was a heck of an athlete.”
Jernstedt was selected as KOIN’s Oregon High
School Athlete of the Year in 1963. That same year, he earned Y-C’s
Inspirational Athlete award and capped his career with first team all-state
honors in all three sports.
Hermo and Jernstedt teamed up to lead the Tigers
to a league title – the school’s second of four consecutive conference
championships – and a state semifinal appearance in 1963.
Y-C’s postseason run ended with a controversial
3-1 loss to Bandon, in which a home-friendly umpiring crew clouded Hermo’s
recollection of the playoff.
“The home plate ump was the (Bandon) catcher’s
dad, and the field crew was also from the area. I felt like the OSAA should’ve
done a better job organizing, and they admitted they should’ve hired a crew
from Coos Bay,” said Hermo.
A weather-aided error late in the contest
ultimately handed Bandon the victory and a trip to the state finals in
Portland.
Jernstedt regretted missing competing for a
state title, but his baseball tenure in Y-C remains one of the greatest in the
school’s history.
Hermo’s arrival in Yamhill was especially
fortuitous, Jernstedt said. The Clatskanie graduate served in the Army shortly
after the Korean War, and played baseball in Seoul.
“I played against some pro baseball players who
were drafted into the Army,” remembered Hermo.
In early 1962, Hermo’s military service ended
and he quickly received an opportunity to teach and coach at Y-C in February of
the same year. The team’s previous coach, George Ing, left Yamhill to purchase
property on the Columbia River, Jernstedt noted.
The pairing of the electric arm of Jernstedt and
the inspirational coaching of Hermo resulted in unprecedented success at Y-C.
In ’62, the Tigers qualified for the A-2
quarterfinals, but fell to North Catholic, 4-2. The following season, Jernstedt’s
senior campaign, Y-C knocked off Seaside 3-2 in the A-2 quarterfinals, but fell
just short in the windy loss to Bandon.
Nevertheless, Jernstedt still holds Hermo’s
direction in high esteem, saying, “Larry was a very good coach – an excellent
coach.”
Hermo’s tenure with the Tigers lasted six years,
in which the team lost only three league games in a four-year span, racked up
four league titles and four state playoff appearances.
He next coached at Rex Putnam in Milwaukie,
where he also taught history and led the Kingsmen for 24 years. In his career,
Hermo notched 427 wins and was inducted into the Oregon Coaches Hall of Fame in
1998.
In the 1980s, Hermo coached a young Scott
Brosius – of New York Yankee fame.
“Not too many coaches can say they’ve coached two
of the grandest Oregon sports personalities in history,” noted Hermo.
Brosius’ turn as a World Series hero was
witnessed by his former coach, who gave Hermo tickets on multiple occasions.
While the fame of Jernstedt and Brosius, plus a
connection to Hermo drew comparisons between the two, Hermo said what he always
noticed was their similar work ethics.
“Both Tom and Scott were wonderful people and
great leaders. They both earned their ways in life – nothing was given to
them,” said Hermo.
While Jernstedt’s prowess on the playing field
and on the basketball court demanded attention, his leadership skills made him
truly special, Hermo said.
Named student-body president, Jernstedt proved a
capable and willing leader. An ability to listen before engaging with teammates
and friends eventually translated perfectly to his future role in the NCAA.
When participating in Beaver Boys State,
Jernstedt’s people skills eventually landed him the role of governor in the
simulated political exercise.
Jernstedt parlayed his on- and off-field
successes into a football scholarship to the University of Oregon.
As a member of the Ducks, he redshirted his
freshman year, and was beaten out for the starting quarterback role as a
sophomore. Though still interested in playing baseball, his football
scholarship denied him the opportunity to play his favorite sport.
Jernstedt’s elevated personal expectations led
to a conversation with then-Oregon athletic director Len Casanova.
“I went in to talk to Cas, and I told him how
sorry I was for my performance. I didn’t think I was playing up to my
standards. I asked him if there was anything else I could do to help the
football team,” recalled Jernstedt.
“It was difficult to give up playing sports,” he
added.
Casanova offered Jernstedt a recruiting
position. After graduating, he worked with McCormick Spices as a salesman. “I
didn’t know anything about spices, but they paid me $14,000 and gave me a
company car,” laughed Jernstedt.
After only 10 months in the sales industry,
Casanova called Jernstedt to offer him a new position back at his alma mater.
“Cas offered me $7,000 to return to Oregon and I
couldn’t wait to get back there,” he noted.
The Carlton native served as assistant athletic
director from 1968-1972, mostly coordinating events. At age 29, he was in prime
position to succeed Casanova as the Ducks’ athletic director, but a criticism
of his inexperience led to the school passing him over.
The denial proved a massive boon for Jernstedt’s
career.
Jernstedt began working for the NCAA in 1972.
He initially assisted with the NCAA Track and
Field Championships at Hayward Field. The occasion delivered a lesson in
management for Jernstedt, who recounted one of the most stressful moments of
his career.
The experience involved legendary Oregon track
and field coach Bill Bowerman and NCAA track and field chairman DeLoss Dodds.
“We were hosting the NCAA Track and Field
Championships, and the night before the meet I met with the committee at Clark
Dormitory. We took a walk around the track and DeLoss informed me the relay
intervals were wrong – the hand-off areas were incorrect,” said Jernstedt.
“DeLoss said he wanted to talk to Coach
Bowerman. I informed Bowerman, and he was obviously ruffled by the questions. I
was stuck in the middle and I was intimidated by both sides. It was the highest
intensity situation of my career.
“It didn’t help that I didn’t know what the hell
I was doing,” he added.
Late in 1972, Jernstedt’s official title at the
NCAA was Director of Events. He wielded a variety of roles within the governing
body, but left his greatest impact on the Division I men’s basketball
tournament.
He grew interested in expanding the spectacle of
what would become the Final Four. He was instrumental in marketing deals, TV
negotiations, selection committees and venues.
Jernstedt’s accomplishments with the men’s
basketball program eventually landed him an induction into the NCAA Hall of
Fame and National Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
He was awarded the John Bunn Award in 2001,
served as president of the Board of Directors for USA Basketball, and
eventually earned the role of Executive Vice President for the NCAA – the
number-two position in the organization.
“I was very fortunate to enjoy the opportunities
to help the NCAA D-I men’s basketball championships grow into what they are
today. I feel very, very lucky to receive those opportunities,” said Jernstedt.
A chance to become the top dog at the NCAA was
rebuffed by Jernstedt, citing his desire to continue work with the men’s
basketball tournament.
“I’m very pleased to have turned down more money
and that job. I was too happy watching the tournament grow into what it is
now,” he explained.
Jernstedt’s importance in athletics drew him
and, by extension, Hermo, into the world of sports celebrities.
A close friend of Boston Celtics legend John
Havlicek, Jernstedt regularly golfed with “Hondo” and other NBA personalities.
Hermo, while attending a college basketball game
courtesy of Jernstedt, met Los Angeles Dodgers ace pitcher Sandy Koufax. He’s
also met Tiger Woods, Sam Jones, Arnold Palmer and Mickey Mantle during his
tour through the wide world of sports.
Their experiences in athletics comprise a sports
fan’s dream, and the two Oregonians remain thankful.
Jernstedt, finally earning recognition in his
home state for his contribution to athletics, is simply ready to return to the
Willamette Valley after living in Jupiter, Florida during his retirement.
“I’ve been away for a number of years, and I’m
ready to return,” he said.
After his grandson, Cole, graduates from high school,
Jernstedt feels compelled to move to Eugene and “follow the Ducks more
closely.”
Hermo, his old coach, friend and most faithful
supporter, appears excited to witness Jernstedt’s induction next month.
“Tom is one of the top personality individuals
I’ve come across. He has always distinguished himself with honor. There’s a
reason he’s called, ‘Mr. Final Four,’” he concluded.
#
Tom
Jernstedt, father of the Final Four
For
nearly four decades, Jernstedt protected and promoted the NCAA tournament
By Michael
Smith, Sports Business Journal, March 23, 2015
https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/03/23/Champions/Jernstedt.aspx
