Starkey participated in basketball, football and power-lifting while at Coventry High School. Jeff was an outstanding running back and linebacker for the Comet teams he played on. Jeff was a very hardworking student athlete who wanted to excel and improve each and every time he stepped onto the football field. Jeff earned three varsity letters in football. He earned several post-season honors as well. He was a member of the All PAC 7 first team after his junior and senior seasons. He was elected captain of the ’91 Comets by his teammates. During that same season, Jeff was named Team MVP and earned All Northeast Ohio and All State honors. Jeff continued his football career at Mount Union College. While at Mount Union, Jeff played defensive end for the Purple Raiders and was a member of one of their early National Championship teams. Jeff received his degree in education and began his teaching career as a history teacher at Jackson Middle School. This job enabled him to coach football on the high school level. From there Jeff coached at St. Henry High School near Dayton, Ohio. He won two State Championships within his first five years as a head coach at the school. Jeff and his wife Melissa are the proud parents of two boys.