Jerry Barger helped put Millersville wrestling on the map in the program's formative years. He earned Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 155-lb. titles in 1949 and 1950, and was a member of PSAC team championship squads in 1949 and 1951—still the only state titles achieved in team annals.
Barger also earned runner-up honors in the 1950 4-I and Middle Atlantic AAU tournaments. On the mat, Barger's collegiate win percentage was over 90 percent (only three losses), and he was neither pinned nor called for a near-fall during his Marauder varsity career. In addition, he was undefeated against PSAC competition in dual meet competition during his four seasons at the 'Ville.
In 1951 and 1952, Barger served as a student-athlete/assistant coach for Dr. Theodore H. Rupp, and also aided MU mentor Jerry Swope in 1974. He was named to Millersville's 25 th Anniversary of Wrestling All-Star Team in 1971. For five years (1971-76), he was clinician and assistant director of the Millersville Wrestling Camp.
He established the wrestling program at Albright College and served as the Lions' first coach for four seasons (1956-60), and also assisted in implementing varsity mat programs at Wilson, Governor Mifflin, Wyomissing , Hamburg , Muhlenberg, and Fleetwood high schools.
Barger attained a 60 percent win total during a four-season tenure (1964-68) at North Plainfield (N.J.) High School. He returned to Lancaster County in the early ‘70s and compiled a three-year record of 23-17-2 as head coach at Penn Manor High School .
He earned a bachelor's of science in secondary education from Millersville. A charter member of the District 3 Wrestling Coaches Association, Barger officiated scholastic competition in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for 10 years.
Barger was inducted into the Clearfield County Chapter (1996) and Susquehanna Valley Chapter (2001) of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
For 35 years, Barger served as a technology education teacher at West Reading Junior and Senior High School, Reynolds Junior High School , and Penn Manor High School .
