Gerry is a 1996 graduate of Grand Haven High School, where he competed in both cross country in track. He then went on to run cross country, and indoor & outdoor track at Grand Valley State University from 1996-2000 where he served as team captain. His coaching career began at Spring Lake High School, where he served 3 years as the boys middle school track coach and then went on to work as the distance coach for both the boys and girls varsity track teams. Gerry helped Spring Lake’s top female runner at the time achieve a regional championship in the 3200m run.
Following his final season at Spring Lake, Gerry began a teaching career at Creative Technologies Academy in Cedar Springs, where he worked as the high school science teacher. In 2008, he built the school’s first ever cross country team and served as head coach for boys and girls, 6th-12th grade. Starting from very humble beginnings, over the next few years the cross country family at CTA grew closer through determination, hard work, and dedication. Hard work paid off in 2011, when the CTA varsity girls earned a 2nd place finish at the Michigan Class D State Cross Country Championships. Throughout his time at CTA, the boys team had three top 15 finishes in the state and one top 5 finish, while the girls team had one top 15, two top 10, and one top 5 finish. The runners under him at the high school level earned numerous All-Conference and All-State honors, but he was most proud of the values preached and practiced: sportsmanship, serving others, kindness, and leading by example on and off the course.
Coach Verwey is married to his wife Jennifer, and they reside in Ravenna, MI. He currently works as a high school physics teacher at Kent Innovation High in Grand Rapids, and his hobbies include trail running, road racing, ultimate Frisbee, fishing, and exploring nature.
