Jerry Stearns was a standout on the football field at Auburn High School. Following graduation, Stearns played college football at West Alabama (then Livingston) before an injury forced him into athletic training to close his college career. He did earn one varsity letter in 1967 before being injured.

Stearns served five years at Woodlawn as an assistant coach with Tandy Geralds before becoming head coach in 1976. Over the next 23 seasons he led the Colonels on the football field. Stearns compiled a 124-120-1 record including two Class 6A semi-final playoff appearances. During his tenure at Woodlawn, he coached ten players who went on to play in the NFL.

In March of 1999, Coach Jerry Stearns left Woodlawn High School after a 28 year association with the Colonels. He accepted the head football coaching position at Kingwood Christian Academy in Alabaster.

Kingwood was a very successful 8-man program in the North Alabama Christian Conference before moving into the Alabama Independent School Association in 1997. The Lions went 1-9 in each of their first two seasons in the AISA.

Stearns went 41-62 in ten seasons as the head football coach at Kingwood. Success was slow in coming but did arrive in his last few seasons at the helm. Stearns would retire for good from his head coaching duties following the 2008 season.