Jeffrey was a standout athlete at Shawnee Mission West High School in Overland Park, Kansas. When picking the university where he would want to continue his football career, Missouri and Baylor were his first and second choices, respectively, even though his older brother Neal had previously been a star quarterback at Baylor. Jeffrey enrolled at Mizzou in the fall of 1977. He did not play during his freshman season. After backing up starting quarterback Phil Bradley during his entire sophomore season in 1978, he grew discontented and looked to transfer. Jeffrey called Baylor head coach Grant Teaff and was told he would have to earn the starting job, but he transferred anyway. Due to NCAA bylaws pertaining to transferring, Jeffrey had to sit out the 1979 season. He then beat out the other quarterbacks to earn the starting job for the 1980 season and guided the Bears to a Southwest Conference championship with a 10–1 record. The Bears reached a #6 national ranking heading into the 1981 Cotton Bowl Classic against #9 Alabama. The Crimson Tide, led by Hall of Fame coach Bear Bryant, won the game 30 to 2, however, and Baylor ended their season with a 10–2 overall record. The following season, Jeffrey's last, did not duplicate the success of the 1980 season. The Bears finished with a 5–6 overall record and tied for sixth place in the conference. Along with playing football, Jeffrey also suited up for the Baylor baseball team during his final two years at the school. In his junior year he played shortstop while in his senior year he was a left fielder. Once his college athletic career ended in the spring of 1982, Jeffrey was finished as an athlete.
Coaching career
Jeffrey graduated from school in the spring of 1982 and followed former Baylor football assistant John O'Hara to Southwest Texas State University. He served as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach through the 1986 season. While at Southwest Texas State, Jeffrey also became the baseball team's head coach for the 1985 and 1986 seasons. The 1985 season marked the school's first ever as a Division I member. He compiled an overall record of 60 wins and 52 losses in two years as the head coach.
Head coaching record
Later life and personal
Jeffrey earned his master's degree in education in 1987 from Southwest Texas State. He moved back to Waco, Texas and has worked at Time Manufacturing ever since. He has five children by his wife, Chris, and his son Ryan played football and ran track at Baylor. Jay Jeffrey, his older brother Neal, and his father James are all inductees into the Baylor Athletic Hall of Fame.
