Orville Charles “Greg” Gregory was the first hire in 1969 for Physical Development Division at Johnson County Community College serving as Athletic Director and was also the first Head Basketball coach. This was the beginning of JCCC Physical Education and Athletics and was known as the Physical Development Division. A recommendation to the board March 14, 1969 was that JCCC would join the Jayhawk Conference as soon as the conference would permit.
While serving as Athletic Director, Gregory was given a paid leave to attend the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany. He was a member of the Track and Field Upon returning, Gregory gave a first hand account to the Board of Trustees of what is was like to be there during the killing of Israeli athletes by Arab terrorists.
After realizing that in the NJCAA, Women’s Basketball did not have a National Tournament to attend, Gregory led the charge and convinced the NJCAA, after surveying for interest to make it happen. Gregory was the reason this became a reality and had JCCC sponsor and host the first NJCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament March 11 to March 15, 1975.
Orville Gregory retired after 15 years of dedicated service June 30, 1984. The athletic teams had increased from the first year with men’s basketball and cheerleading only to adding golf, baseball, men and women tennis, wrestling, men’s soccer, softball, women’s volleyball, women’s basketball and with the addition of Men and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country and Athletic Training.
Dr. James Wolfe took over the helm as Athletic Director and Physical Education division in 1984 and was at the college for one year
Mickey Yasko was hired as the third athletic director for JCCC. At this time there were 15 athletic teams and athletic trainers and cheerleaders. He added to the program by bringing in Istvan Javorek to lead the Strength and Conditioning program and added a weightlifting club.
Lori DeGarmo was hired first as Physical Education director in 1991 then after Linda Dayton, Dean of Students at the time, stepped in for an interim as Athletic director, DeGarmo became the first female athletic director for JCCC in 1992. DeGarmo got married during her tenure as Athletic Director and became Lori Mallory. Mallory was a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and held a leadership role for many years. When Mallory decided to go to teaching then Carl Heinrich was named the Athletic Director in 2001.
Heinrich served as Athletic Director from 2001 until he retired in June 2017.
Randy Stange replaced Heinrich when he retired in June 2017 and is the current Athletic Director and is in charge of the program with 7 current sports, athletic training program and a dance team.
Orville Gregory