• O'Dea High School

O’Dea Basketball: Brotherhood, Discipline, Toughness

The O’Dea High School Basketball Program proudly embodies the tradition of winning, with honor, and is guided by the core values of Brotherhood, Discipline, and Toughness. Through teamwork, you learn the meaning of brotherhood by putting your teammates first and playing for each other.  You discover the value of discipline by executing a plan and realizing the success that comes from doing things the right way.  Finally, you learn how to positively handle adversity and gain the mental toughness to make the right decisions both on and off the court.

The program’s continued tradition of hard work has guided the Irish to 10 Metro League Championships, 34 State Tournament appearances, 10 State Final appearances, and 6 State Championships.  Led by an experienced and accomplished coaching staff, the Irish look forward to this continued tradition of success for years to come.

Coach's Corner

Jason Kerr has been coaching high school basketball in Washington State for the last 30+ years and over 10 years at O’Dea. Before becoming a head coach, Jason spent eight years learning and coaching under the direction of Washington State Hall of Fame coaches Al Kawashima (three seasons) and Phil Lumpkin (five seasons).  Under Coach Lumpkin here at O’Dea High School, Coach Kerr served as a varsity assistant from 1994 to 1999, including the 1997, 29- 0, undefeated season which included players Ryland Brown, Damien del Fierro, and Gene Woodard, all who have or have helped coach for the Irish.  During his tenure as a head coach, Coach Kerr has compiled a 375-130 record, including 7 League Championships, 8 District Championships, 13 State Tournament appearances, and 8 State Championship appearances, with four State Titles, in 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2019.

Coach Kerr has spent many years giving back to the game off the court as well, through his roles on the Executive Board for the Washington State Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association (WIBCA), serving as a consultant for Regional and State Tournaments and 3A/4A WIAA State Basketball Tournament Director with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA).

Jason resides in North Seattle with his wife and two daughters.  In his spare time, Coach Kerr enjoys having BBQs, working in his yard, and golfing.

For more information about Irish Basketball please contact O’Dea Athletic Director, Monte Kohler, at (206) 624-2068 or odad@odea.org. 

History
State Champions
1993
1997
2004
2005
2007
2019
State Tournament Appearances
1955 1974 1975 1979 1980 1981 1983
1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003
2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011
2012 2014 2016 2018 2019 2020 2022
2023
Metro League Champions
1989 1990 1995 1996
1997 1998 1999 2004
2011 2012
Seattle Times All-Area Team
1979 - Jon Hale
1980 - John DeFranco, Steve Stepan
1981 - Joseph "JoJo" Buchanan, John DeFranco
1982 - Joseph "JoJo" Buchanan
1983 - Troy Miles
1989 - Ray Hall
1990 - Matt Bollinger
1994 - Ryan Williams
2007 - Jamelle McMillan *Gatorade State Player of the Year
2011 - Al Hairston *Coach of the Year
2019 - Noah Williams
2020 - Paolo Banchero *Gatorade Player of the Year
2021 - Paolo Banchero *McDonalds All-American