LA PORTE CITY – He is home.

Union Knight standout basketball alum Eric Jesse is back in La Porte City, this time as the head boys basketball coach. Jesse’s hire was officially approved by the Union Board of Education as part of the consent agenda during the Monday, April 15 meeting.

Jesse is a 2009 graduate of Union High School and was a star player back in the day. The 2008-2009 Union boys basketball team finished with an impressive 22-2 record with Jesse leading the team in scoring. Since that season, the Knights boys program has seen only one winning season, averaging an 8-14 record over the past 15 years.

Jesse looks to bring consistent success to the Knights. He has extensive experience coaching at various levels including Union (JV basketball and middle school baseball), Janesville (middle school basketball), North Tama (Varsity basketball), and Waterloo East (Varsity baseball).

In his time with Waterloo East baseball, Jesse took the team from a one-win season (2020) to a 19 win season (2023).

Jesse will inherit a Union Knights boys basketball team that finished the 2023-2024 season with an 11-12 overall record, and a returning roster with significant basketball experience.

In addition to coaching, Jesse is currently a fifth grade teacher at Waterloo’s Highland Elementary School.