A former teacher, coach, and administrator at Indiana State University will be one of four individuals to be inducted into the 2014 Class of the Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday. The induction ceremonies are sponsored by Old National Bank and will be conducted in the Sycamore Banquet Center.
Alpha Cleary, an administrator, teacher, and coach at Indiana State from 1958 to 1988, will be inducted into the 23rd Class along with Reggie Allen, a member of the Sycamore football team from 1978 to 1981, and two former track & field stars in runner Angie Menser-Lansing (1995 to 1998) and high jumper Steve Parker (1991 to 1994).
Cleary served Indiana State in a variety of capacities during her 30 years of service to the university. The 1954 graduate of Indiana University came to Indiana State as an Associate Professor of Physical Education and coached the women’s basketball team (1966-1969) as women’s intercollegiate athletics began to take shape at Indiana State and across the nation.
She became the athletic director for the women’s program in 1972 and served as the associate director of athletics when the men’s and women’s programs were combined. She retired in 1988. Cleary also served as Indiana State’s first Compliance Officer.
During her tenure as athletic director she directed the women’s program of 13 sports from a meager start to a program with 128 grants-in-aid.
She was instrumental in the establishment of the Indiana State Athletics Hall of Fame and served as an ex-officio member of the committee for six years. Cleary gave the invocation at three of the first four induction ceremonies including the first class which was inducted on Feb. 29, 1982, in a ceremony held at the Sheraton Inn of Terre Haute.
Cleary died on August 16, 2002 at the age of 69.
- Associate Professor of Physical Education
- Director of Athletics for women’s program in 1972
- Associate Director of Athletics when men’s and women’s programs merged (retired 1988)
- Coached women’s basketball 1966-1969
- Directed women’s program of 13 sports at Indiana State from the beginning of intercollegiate
- competition to a program with 128 grants-in-aid
- Inducted into Hall of Fame October 9, 2014