* - Honorary Member
“If you look at how he represents his program, his high school, his community, parents, student athletes, and Lyndon State College, you will find that ALL can be proud of his accomplishments and contributions. You could not find a better candidate to include in this elite and select group of LSC alumni.”
- Bernie Hartshorn
Gary Jenness ’73 obtained his B.S. in Physical Education in 1973. In June, he retired from Groveton High School, where he had been a teacher since 1975, athletic director since 1990, and girls’ varsity basketball coach since 1978.
On February 6, 2006, Gary reached a rare milestone: a 500th varsity coaching win, the most for any girls’ basketball coach in New Hampshire history. One sports reporter wrote, “The Eagles have a dynasty carefully crafted by a coach who has the satisfaction of building a program that for almost 20 years has been at or near the top of the pack. Jenness has put the Groveton girls on the basketball map and kept them there...In Groveton, it’s always been about team and stifling defense and the expectations of a winning coach.” (Caledonian Record, 2/7/06) En route to his 500th win, coach Jenness and his team captured 11 championship banners and two runner-up plaques that hang on the walls of the Groveton gym.
Gary’s recognition understandably started coming long before tonight’s banquet. He has been named Coach of the Year in Class S six times and N.H. Girls Coach of the Year in 1991. In 2005, he was named District 1 Girls Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High Schools. Gary was inducted into the N.H. Coaches Association Hall of Fame for excellence of service, and in the fall of 2004, into the N.H. Interscholastic Athletic Association Hall of Fame for having a significant and lasting impact on N.H. youth and high school athletics. He was elected to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004. Gary also received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Federation of High School Athletics.
Gary and his wife, Marjorie, live in Lancaster, New Hampshire. He has two step-children, two granddaughters, and a grandson.
