Zora G. Clevenger (December 12, 1881 – November 24, 1970) was a Hall of Fame college football player, as well as a successful football and basketball coach and pioneering athletic director.
Playing career
Clevenger was a star 145-pound halfback at Indiana University from 1900 to 1903. Although his IU teams were not great, he received national recognition for his athletic abilities. He played baseball and basketball at Indiana as well, and was captain of all three squads.
Coaching career
Following graduation, he served as head coach for the baseball and basketball teams at Indiana for two years. He then coached baseball at Nebraska Wesleyan University from 1908 to 1911.
In 1911, Clevenger moved to the University of Tennessee, where he served as head football and basketball coach until 1915. While at UT he posted a 26-15-2 record in football, including a conference championship and the school's first undefeated season in 1914. At the same time, his 1915-1916 basketball team went undefeated, and was acknowledged as the best team in the South. Clevenger also served as athletic director at Tennessee.
Prior to the 1916 football season, Clevenger moved to Kansas State, where he would serve until 1920 as head football coach, head basketball coach, and the first athletic director for the school. (Curiously, John R. Bender moved from Kansas State to Tennessee at the same time, so the two schools in effect swapped football coaches.) Clevenger's football teams at Kansas State had an overall record of 19-9-2. He found even more success in basketball, posting a 54-17 record – still the best winning percentage in school history – and winning two Missouri Valley Conference championships. In 1921, Clevenger left the coaching profession and moved to the University of Missouri, where he served as athletic director until 1923.
In 1923, Clevenger returned to Indiana and became its most venerated athletic director, holding that position for 23 years before retiring in 1946. He was replaced in the position by Bo McMillin. While at IU, Clevenger helped found the annual East-West Shrine Game.
Honors
Clevenger was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1968.
The I-Men's Association at Indiana University annually awards a Z.G. Clevenger award in his honor. It is the highest award given by the organization.
| TEAM |
YEAR |
WINS |
LOSSES |
TIES |
| Tennessee |
1911 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
| Tennessee |
1912 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
| Tennessee |
1913 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
| Tennessee |
1914 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
| Tennessee |
1915 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
| Kansas St. |
1916 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
| Kansas St. |
1917 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
| Kansas St. |
1918 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
| Kansas St. |
1919 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
| CAREER TOTAL |
9 years |
45 |
24 |
4 |
References
- Stallard, Mark (2000). Wildcats to Powercats: K-State Football Facts and Trivia (ISBN 1-58497-004-9)
External links
|
Kansas State Wildcats Athletic Directors |
|
|
|
|
| Persondata |
| NAME |
Clevenger, Zora G. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES |
Clevenger, Zora |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION |
College football player and coach, College Football Hall of Fame inductee |
| DATE OF BIRTH |
December 12, 1881 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH |
|
| DATE OF DEATH |
November 24, 1970 |
| PLACE OF DEATH |
|
