Jarrod DeGeorgia, former Sioux City Bandits coordinator and quarterback, dead at age 49 (2024)

SIOUX CITY — Jarrod "JD" DeGeorgia, who broke passing records at Wayne State College and the Sioux City Bandits and later coached the Bandits for many seasons, has died at age 49.

"JD has been a very important part of the Sioux City Bandits Organization for many years first as a quarterback and then as a coach. His legacy will always live on in the Sioux City Bandits Organization as one of the best to ever put on that jersey. Rest in peace #12," the Bandits announced Thursday in a Facebook post.

DeGeorgia grew up in Lompoc, California. Along with Napoleon Kaufman, a running back who later played for the Oakland Raiders, DeGeorgia helped lead Lompoc to a divisional championship.

After two seasons at Santa Barbara City College, DeGeorgia transferred to Wayne State, where he set NCAA Division II records for passing attempts in a game (76) and completions in a game (56). In a 1996 game against Drake, the Wildcat quarterback passed for a school record 599 yards.

Following his college career, DeGeorgia landed a roster spot on the Iowa Barnstormers Arena Football League team. During the 1997 season, he backed up Iowa native and future NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner.

"I learned a lot from Kurt Warner, I'll tell you that," DeGeorgia said in an interview. "He was a great guy and willing to teach every day in practice."

While Warner had logged time stocking shelves at a Cedar Falls Hy-Vee store, DeGeorgia sold cars in Huntington Beach, California for a time to supplement his income. Hoping to follow Warner's footsteps into the NFL, he played for the Stockholm Crowns in the now-defunct NFL Europe league. DeGeorgia also played for the Calgary Stampede in the Canadian Football League.

"I was excited about Calgary, but not as much after I got there," he recalled. "That's when I thought maybe it was time to give up the game."

After he returned to the states, Bandits coach Carl Reinhardt called.

"I didn't play football last season, but I thought, what the heck, I'll give it one more shot," DeGeorgia recalled.

In his first season in 2000, DeGeorgia was named the league Most Valuable Player after throwing for 4,000 yards and 20 touchdowns.

In 62 games with the Bandits, he rewrote the team record books with 8,615 yards and147 touchdowns. After losing the quarterback job, he returned to the team for the 2005 and split time under center with former Clemson quarterback Willie Simmons. During the season, he shared the field with Bandits legend Fred Jackson, who went on to play for the Buffalo Bills.

A fierce competitor, DeGeoriga wasn't prone to giving up during games. A Journal story from April 2002 notes a shoulder injury forced him to adjust his delivery to a sidearm style of throwing the football.

"I didn't have that great a game but the important thing was that everyone else played great and we got the 'W'," he said.

After ending his playing career, DeGeorgia became the Bandits' offensive coordinator. He served as the head coach for two seasons, compiling a 8-20 record. He later returned as an offensive coordinator under current head coach Erv Strohbeen, who was DeGeoriga's center with Wayne State and the Bandits.

DeGeorgia retired from coaching in 2022.

After ending his playing days, he became a part owner and manager of a local Pizza Ranch franchise.

Services are pending for DeGeorgia.

The Journal's Dave Dreeszen contributed to this story.