Meet the Author: John Hegarty Jr.

September 30, 2025
Doors Open 5:30 p.m.
Program Starts 6:00 p.m.

John Hegarty Jr.
“Fight Team Fight: The History of Cedar Rapids Jefferson Football”

From Friday night lights to championship dreams — and the heartbreak of seasons gone wrong — this is the definitive story of Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School football. Spanning 1957 to 2020, Fight Team Fight captures 63 years of grit, glory, and community pride, as well as the disappointments, downfalls, and futility of long losing streaks. Packed with rare archival photographs, firsthand accounts, and historic coverage from the Cedar Rapids Gazette, it delivers a vivid portrait of the J-Hawks’ journey — both triumphant and trying — going beyond statistics to share personal stories and colorful memories.


When retired coach John Hegarty turns his pen to the game, he writes with the heart of someone who’s lived every win and loss. A prep football radio analyst for two decades, he has stayed deeply connected to the sport even after leaving the sidelines. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Hegarty wore the J-Hawk colors as a student before returning home to teach and coach in the very schools that shaped him. For 25 years, he was part of the Jefferson science department and coaching staff, mentoring generations of students and athletes. His deep ties to the west-side community infuse every page, making this not just a history of a football program, but a celebration of the resilience, spirit, and determination that have defined it for more than six decades — win or lose.

Sponsored by: Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust

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• Next month, 23rd September, 12:30 pm, Chew on This: Oldest Houses in Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids

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