Bio

Jerry McFarland is a seasoned leader in collegiate athletics, currently serving as Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Washington Adventist University (WAU). With over 30 years of coaching experience, including four years at the collegiate head coaching level and nine years overall at WAU, he has established himself as one of the most impactful coaches in the NAIA Continental Athletic Conference (CAC).

Jerry was honored as the 2024–25 Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Coach of the Year, having led the Shock to two NAIA National Tournament appearances (2022, 2024) and CAC Championship Runner-Up finishes in both 2021–22 (20–11) and 2023–24 (18–11). He holds an overall 70–45 record as a college head coach who values the graduation of his players and their continued growth.

Before joining WAU, Jerry rebuilt the Takoma Academy boys’ basketball program into a perennial powerhouse, capturing three Adventist National Championships and recording three consecutive 20-win seasons. His coaching resume includes over 25 years on the AAU circuit with powerhouse programs such as D.C. Assault, VA Assault, and Team Loaded, where he helped guide more than seventy professional players, including NBA talents Rodney McGruder, Mike Beasley, Nolan Smith, Jarvis Threatt, Mac McClung, and Isaiah Todd.

A strategic recruiter and dynamic leader, Jerry is known for his ability to foster academic and athletic excellence, manage rosters through the transfer portal, fundraising, and developing elite talent within a safe and structured environment. He also has extensive financial administrative experience, overseeing compliance, budgeting, insurance, facilities, and intramurals as WAU’s Assistant Athletic Director.

Jerry holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from the University of Maryland, University College, and previously held professional roles at Fannie Mae and KPMG, LLP, where he was a three-time STAR Award recipient for work excellence in his role as Senior Consultant.