Coles Found Each Other At ISU

AMES, Iowa--- Finding their future spouse was not something Jamie and Jeff Cole were promised when they accepted an offer to become a Cyclone student-athlete.

The two ISU letter winners met in the summer of 1991 at an event through Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“I went home and told my Mom, ?I think I met the girl,” Jeff said.

A graduate of Valley High School in West Des Moines, Jeff committed to play football at Iowa State after looking at other schools. Both Jeff and Jamie selected Iowa State because of its close proximity to home and the appeal of competing at the NCAA Division I level.

After meeting that summer, the Coles became friends and spent time at the library and class (both received degrees in finance).

“I drove to her parent's house in Prairie City while she was babysitting one night and asked her Dad,” said Jeff. “He was pretty surprised when I showed him I had already picked out the ring.”

Jeff proposed at the Ames' Village Inn in December of 1992.

“Within a couple of months, we knew,” said Jamie.

While Jeff had another semester of school and season of eligibility, Jamie commuted from Ames to Marshalltown to her job each day for six months.

“We were on a budget, but we didn't know it,” Jeff said. “We had what we wanted.”

Jamie and Jeff waited a year to wed, following her mother's request.

Each had standout collegiate careers. Jeff, despite missing most of his final season because of injury, finished his career with 233 tackles and four sacks. He led the Big Eight in tackles with 123 stops during the 1993 campaign. Jamie was Iowa State's school record-holder in the high jump indoors for 10 years, with a career best leap of 5-10 ? that stills ranks her second-best performer on the all-time Cyclone list. She also set an ISU school mark of 5-10 outdoors in 1993, which still ranks third all-time among all high jumpers in Iowa State history.

In December of 1993, the two wed in a Baptist church in Colfax, Iowa. It was the same day that Jamie received her ISU degree, so she chose to walk the aisle at her wedding rather than process with her fellow graduates.

Jeff worked at his brother's painting company for four years after graduation. In 1997, his brother passed away in a car accident and Jeff and Jamie soon took full ownership of the business.

“Playing teaches you how to deal with adversity,” said Jeff. “At Iowa State, you're always the underdog and it's something you learn to embrace.”

The Coles look back on their experience as Cyclone student-athletes fondly. The couple owns season tickets to the football games, which they attend with their four children.

“Being an athlete identifies you, it gives you courage,” Jamie said. “You're given so many opportunities.”

Jeff also said the lessons he learned from being a Cyclone have helped him in different aspects of life.

“There's something about someone who can go the extra mile,” Jeff said.

Iowa State University Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors