Portage High School

Bob Kerns earned a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University. After graduation, Bob served in the US Armed Forces from 1953 to 1955. When he returned home, he completed his master’s degree at Indiana University. His degree was in education but Bob also took classes in athletic training taught by Professor Dwayne “Spike” Dixon. In 1956, Bob began his long career at Portage High School where he stayed until he retired in 1990. During the years at Portage, he started out by teaching math and being an assistant football coach and junior high basketball coach. In the early 1970’s, his athletic director, Floyd Johnson, offered him a position to be a full time athletic trainer and equipment manager. Bob was one of the first high school athletic trainers in Indiana. In 1988, Bob served as one of the athletic trainers for the Indiana All-Star Football game. He also served for over five years as an NATABOC practical test examiner and volunteered to help at GLATA meetings.