Sneaker Theory names Pat Connaughton as Milwaukee Bucks 'off the court' player of the year

When Pat Connaughton – the star shooting guard for the Milwaukee Bucks – donated a new indoor court to my old elementary school, it brought back so many great memories from my childhood in the 1980s.

The gym at 38th St. School – now known as Milwaukee College Prep – always served more than one purpose. It’s where we used to hold our “project shows,” do our Presidential fitness tests and hold potluck dinners.

The gym is also where we ate lunch and held basketball practice.

One man was always there for both lunch and basketball practice. His name is Jerry Jones, but he’ll always be Coach Jerry to me.

By day, Coach Jerry wore a hairnet, plastic gloves and a white chef’s coat as he served us pizza, mock chicken legs or lasagna as one of the lead cooks at 38th St. School. But after school, Coach Jerry – wearing his signature maroon, pin-striped bell bottoms and a pair of white Chuck Taylor sneakers by Converse – had us run a three-man weave and do other basketball drills to sharpen our skills on the court.

Prior to Pat Connaughton’s generous gift, I hadn’t spoken with Coach Jerry in nearly 40 years. But when I saw a news article that PC had donated a court to my elementary school alma mater, it put me in a state of nostalgia. In fact, the nostalgia got so deep that it led me to reach out to my old coach – not only to say “hi” but to say “thank you” and let him know how much we appreciated what he did to get us ready for our games. We used to play on Saturday mornings at Milwaukee’s North Division High School or Washington High School.

When I finally got Coach Jerry on the phone, I found him to be just as positive and upbeat as he was back when he was our coach.

“That’s got to be fantastic,” Coach Jerry told me when I informed him of the new court that Pat Connaughton’s foundation donated to our old school. “The kids should be loving that.”

He was surprised that I still remembered his maroon, pin-striped pants and Chuck Taylor sneakers after all these years.

“You got a good memory,” Coach Jerry said. “I always still wear Chuck Taylors.”

Anyone who follows the NBA knows about the eye-popping seven- and eight-figure salaries that the coaches make. Coach Jerry told me he only made about six or seven bucks an hour from the recreation department as our coach. He said it was nice to get the extra paycheck on top of his cook’s salary, but he didn’t do it for the money – he did it for us, the kids.

“I loved every day I was there,” Coach Jerry told me.

Coach Jerry started his job as a cook at 38th St. School in 1979 – the same year I enrolled there as a first-grader.

I was surprised to learn how much pride he had in his connection to 38th St. School.

When he left 38th St. to work at another school, he said the principal gave him a big throw rug that used to be in the hallway. The rug states: “Welcome to 38th St. School: Home of the Jaguars.”

“I’m looking at it right now,” Coach Jerry told me during our call.

Coach Jerry is a big fan of Pat Connaughton.

“He’s a good hustler for us,” Coach Jerry said.

Like the Bucks, our team at 38th St. may have won a championship or two, but Coach Jerry wasn’t quite sure when. He just remembers the principal at 38th St. providing money to take the team out to dinner at the end of one season.

Championship or not, Coach Jerry is a champion to me. Like so many coaches, he worked after school and got up early on Saturday mornings to guide us through our games -- always with a highly motivational spirit. He helped provide a structured activity for kids who really needed it.

It’s good to see Pat Connauhgton doing his part, too.

When basketball players do good deeds in the community, it’s often said that they’re good players “off the court” as well as on the court. By donating basketball courts to schools who need them – including in Rwanda – Pat Connaughton is demonstrating he’s never really “off the court.” Through his foundation, he is helping to create positive experiences for thousands of kids who will be on those courts creating good memories for years to come.

And for that Sneaker Theory names Pat Connauhgton as its Milwaukee Bucks “off the court” Player of the Year.