Jerry Daily graduated from Russellville High School where he played football, basketball and ran track. Following high school he continued his basketball career on the college level at Walker Junior College and Florence State University. He began his coaching career in 1966 at Bowles Academy in Jacksonville, Florida leading the team to an 18-6 record. The next year he became the varsity basketball coach at Colbert Heights High School. After one season at the helm of the Wildcats he became the varsity basketball coach at Colbert County High School in 1968. He led the Indians to an 88-23 record over the next four years. Jerry led Colbert County to the 3-A State Championship game in 1970-1971, finishing as state runner-up. That season was followed by a state championship in the 1971-1972. That season he was the Shoals Coach of the year, State 3-A Coach of the year and coached the All-Star Basketball Team. Coach C,M. Newton hired him to coach the freshman team at the University of Alabama in 1972. He then moved on to coach Northwest Junior College in Phil Campbell to two undefeated Northern Division championships in the Alabama Junior College Conference in the 1975-1976 and 1976-1977 season He was selected as the Alabama Junior College Coach of the year in both of those seasons.