John C. Lerma

Inducted 2000
Hometown: McAllen
College: Baylor University
Best Known for: Coaching – Football
b. July 6, 1947

One of the most well-traveled coaches in history, Lerma is an expert program builder who worked for six Valley high schools, including his alma mater of Rio Grande City, and also led the charge at Robstown and Corpus Christi Miller.

He was a standout high school athlete at McAllen High School who played in the Texas State All-Star Game in 1964, after having starred for his father, Coach E.C. Lerma, at Rio Grande City High School. From there he went on to letter three years for Baylor University in the Southwest Conference.

Lerma got his first head coaching job with Port Isabel in the early 1970s, and later plied his trade at Donna, McAllen Memorial, Brownsville Hanna, RGC, and Harlingen South. He also coached in New Mexico.