Gilmour Academy welcomed alum Jerry Porath ’70 back to the boys basketball program as a varsity assistant coach with the 2019-20 season.

Although the 2021-22 season marks only his third year coaching alongside current head coach Dan DeCrane, it is Porath’s ninth year on the sidelines for the Lancers. He first coached with the program as an assistant during the 1977-78 season before taking over as a head coach from 1978-82. He then resumed his assistant duties for the 1995-96 season.

During his first year as a head coach with the team, the Lancers compiled a record of 18-3, which, at the time, was the program’s second highest winning percentage. He was voted Northeast Ohio Lakes Coach of the Year after that season.

Porath went on to coach at Case Western Reserve University as an assistant with the men’s basketball program (1982-85) and as an assistant with the varsity boys basketball team at St. Ignatius High School (2005-19).

During his playing days at Gilmour, he was a three-year varsity starter. He won a number of awards, including best defensive player, most valuable player, All-Independent Team and player of the week honors. He continued his athletic career at Washington and Lee University, where at the time of graduation, he was among the career leaders in several categories. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in history.

Porath currently resides in Shaker Heights, Ohio, with his wife of 41 years, Ann McGowan, who is a former English teacher at Gilmour. They have two sons, Brendan (38) and Matthew (35), and four grandchildren. He is a senior account manager at Dell Technologies, where he has been employed for over 20 years. He is a member of the Greater Cleveland Basketball Coaches Association (GCBCA) and has been a volunteer with various church organizations and a coach with a number of youth sports programs.