Jerry Striegel Obituary, Death – Longtime Rochester and Tenino Coach Remembered
The Washington high school sports community is mourning the passing of Jerry Striegel, a longtime coach and athletic director whose career spanned more than four decades and left a lasting mark on student-athletes across the region.
Striegel built an extraordinary coaching legacy at Tenino and Rochester high schools, earning recognition for his leadership, dedication, and commitment to developing young athletes.
Remembering Jerry Striegel
Striegel served as the head baseball coach at Tenino High School from 1983 to 1995, guiding the Beavers to the 1986 1A state championship.
His involvement at Tenino extended well beyond baseball. He also served as the school’s head volleyball coach for eight years and head tennis coach for one year. In addition, he spent a decade as the school’s athletic director.
His contributions to Tenino athletics were formally recognized when he was inducted into the Tenino Athletics Hall of Fame on January 23, 2026.
A Four-Decade Coaching Career
Striegel grew up in Rochester, attended Centralia College, and graduated from Western Washington University in 1979.
After his years at Tenino, he continued his coaching career at Rochester, where he coached baseball for nine years and served as athletic director before retiring in 2018.
Even after retirement, his passion for baseball remained strong. In 2023, Striegel returned to coaching, joining his son Scott on the staff at Arlington High School.
His return to the diamond demonstrated the lasting passion he had for the sport and for working with young athletes.
Honors and Hall of Fame Legacy
Striegel received numerous honors throughout his distinguished career.
The Washington State Baseball Coaches Association recognized him as the Small School Coach of the Year in 2008, and he received its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.
He was also inducted into the Washington State Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2021, further recognizing his decades of contributions to high school baseball.
For the many players he coached, however, his greatest legacy may be found in the lessons, encouragement, discipline, and leadership he provided throughout their formative years.
Jerry Striegel Celebration of Life
According to a social media announcement from the Arlington Eagles baseball program, a celebration of life will be held in Striegel’s memory.
Details regarding the date, time, and location are expected to be shared once arrangements have been finalized.
Family, former players, colleagues, friends, and members of the wider high school sports community will have an opportunity to gather and honor his remarkable life and career.
A Lasting Legacy
Jerry Striegel leaves behind a coaching legacy that stretches across generations of Washington athletes.
From his championship-winning years at Tenino to his work at Rochester and his later return to baseball alongside his son, Striegel dedicated much of his life to education, athletics, and the young people he coached.
His influence will continue through the athletes he mentored, the programs he helped strengthen, and the memories created throughout his remarkable coaching career.
Jerry Striegel will be deeply missed and remembered as a dedicated coach, athletic director, mentor, and influential figure in Washington high school sports.
May he rest in peace, and may his family, friends, former players, colleagues, and the many communities he served find comfort in his lasting legacy.