John Zuerlein can only be termed as Stout's "Mr. Gymnastics." After coming to Stout as a student in in 1959 from Lincoln, Neb., Zuerlein played a year of football. Zuerlein left Stout for two years, but returned in 1962 and turned his attention to gymnastics, starting the Blue Devils men's gymnastics program while still a student, and quickly turning the program into a national contender.

Zuerlein graduated from Stout in 1966, then joined the physical education and athletics department where he coached the men's program from its inception until 1983 and took over the women's program in 1979. Zuerlein was twice named the national coach of the year, and the conference coach of the year in 1984 and 1992. Zuerlein coached seven individual national champions, 15 NAIA and five NCAA men's All-Americans, four NCGA women's All-Americans and numerous all-conference gymnasts. Zuerlein's men's team placed in the top four of the NAIA every year from 1970-83, and twice placed fifth in the NCAA Division II.

An avid outdoorsman, Zuerlein parlayed his interest into the classroom, establishing classes in map and compass, backpacking, canoeing and other similar classes. It was on one of Zuerlein's outdoor adventures with a class that Zuerlein would deal with his biggest setback. Zuerlein was severely injured in a fall in a remote part of a state forest. After his students evacuated him, Zuerlein was hospitalized, then required additional physical therapy.

Zuerlein prevailed and returned to both the classroom and the gymnasium. Zuerlein retired from coaching gymnastics in 1994 and retired completely from the classroom and UW-Stout in 2000. He intends to enjoy the outdoors and his grandchildren.