Thirty years ago, a Perryville child wanted to play soccer. The team needed a coach, and despite having no real knowledge of the sport — or any coaching experience — Dad stepped up (after his wife signed him up, anyway). Twelve years later, he helped start a soccer program at Perryville High School.
Now, 18 years in, Jerry Fulton feels it’s time to move on.
“I mean, it’s like a child that I had 18 years ago, and now it’s an adult,” said Fulton, 63, who announced his retirement during the team’s postseason banquet on Dec. 15. “I’ll turn it loose, but I still want it to do great.”
As Fulton pointed out, it’s been hitting on all cylinders so far. Through 18 seasons, Fulton’s boys’ team amassed 306 wins, 107 losses and one tie. During that time, they had only one losing season, finishing 10-11, and collected 12 conference championships, seven district titles and four appearances in the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 2A state championship finals, resulting in one state title, two second-place finishes and, most recently, a third-place finish in the 2025 finals.
“ Perryville has always been known for having good soccer teams,” Fulton said. “I just followed along there with the guys that had set the road in front of me. We just had a lot of success along the way. It seemed like we were doing something special.”
And that’s just the boys’ program. Fulton also coached the PHS girls for 16 seasons, including 12 as head coach. His girls’ teams earned four conference titles, four district titles and finished fourth in the 2022 Class 2 state championships.
Through 12 seasons with Fulton at the helm, the Lady Pirates finished 173-86-6, giving him a combined high school coaching record of 479 wins, 193 losses and 7 ties — a career 70.5 winning percentage.
Fulton was also a 13- time Jefferson County Athletic Association Conference Coach of the Year, 10-time All-Region Coach of the Year, nine-time KTJJ Dream Team Coach of the Year and a three-time MSHSAA Class 2 Coach of the Year.
“Jerry Fulton has been the face of Perryville soccer for a really long time,” said Perryville High School athletic director Justin Dreyer. “He has put in countless hours of practices, game planning, etc., but the biggest impact he has had is his relationships with the players. Coach Fulton has cared about all of his players like they were his own children. He has left such a big impact on so many lives. I would like to thank him for all that he has done not only for our school, but for our community.”
Fulton’s impact on the local soccer scene extended beyond wins and losses at the high school level. He helped provide opportunities for local youth, with an estimated 50-100 of his players going on to play college soccer during his tenure.
“We had a lot of talent that wasn’t getting an opportunity to play any further,” Fulton said. “It’s not always about playing further. Sometimes it’s about getting help with education. Let’s face it, 99 percent of college players do not go pro. It’s more about paying for that education and getting something out of the sport you love.”
All of that started 30 years ago when a first grader decided to take up the sport.
“When my daughter was young, first grade or so, they were short coaches,” Fulton said. “So, my wife signs me up to assistant coach. I had never coached a soccer game in my life. I just got into it.”
According to his colleagues, Fulton had a bigger impact on the youth program than he might realize. Perryville native and former Pirates football coach Jerry Tucker said the city’s recreation leagues and traveling soccer programs would not exist without Fulton’s involvement.
“Most people realize that he has been coaching PHS for a number of years, with great success, on both the girls’ and the boys’ side,” Tucker said. “I’m not sure how many people know what an influence he had in making Perryville known as a ‘soccer town.’ It’s not just what he has accomplished as a coach at PHS. It’s much more than that.”
According to Tucker, Fulton, along with several others, was influential in developing a soccer program for every child in Perryville.
“All the kids in Perryville, from the age of 5 and up — even earlier now — and from all schools in the area have dedication to promoting the game and getting everyone involved,” Tucker said. “We would not have the reputation, the soccer park or the notoriety that we do without his efforts. Not only does our town’s love for soccer bring great pride to our community, but it also brings great financial benefits with our youth tournaments. None of it would have happened without Jerry’s commitment to the game, the kids and the community.
“For me, Jerry was Perryville soccer.”
Tucker added that he was initially a hard sell when it came to soccer.
“To be honest, as a football and baseball coach, I was not a fan of soccer,” said Tucker, who coached the Pirates’ football team from 1997 through 1999. “I was afraid it would take away from Perryville’s reputation of being the great football and baseball town that I remembered it being as a kid. One summer night after my 5-year-old son finished a T-ball baseball game, Jerry convinced me to let him play soccer in the fall. At that time, we didn’t even have ‘real’ fields. We just painted some in the park as best we could and tried to improve them as the years went by.”
Getting involved turned out to be a great thing.
“I have to tell you, it was one of the best things that ever happened to my family,” Tucker said. “The number of friends and memories that we made playing rec league and travel will never be forgotten. Myself, my wife, and both my son and daughter ended up making lifelong friends and memories because of soccer and Jerry’s efforts.”
After three decades stalking the sideline, Fulton said his thoughts are now turning in a different direction, although he won’t be far away.
“If I’m around and not busy, I’m going to be at the soccer field watching the game,” Fulton said. “I mean, that’s just who I am. I’ve told them, I said, ‘If you guys go to state, I’ll be in the stands. I’ll be your biggest fan.’ I’m not going anywhere; I’m just slowing down.
“For 18 years, my family has come second. It’s time to put my family first. I’ve got grandkids now that are in high school, and I don’t want to miss all their things because I’m busy coaching.”
As for the PHS soccer program he helped create, Fulton said he believes it will continue to thrive.
“I do not see this program falling apart,” Fulton said. “It’s clicking on all cylinders. They just need to keep her going.
“I will always wish them nothing but the best of luck.”
