Gary McClure to be inducted into Austin Peay Athletics Hall of Fame

February 6, 2013 |

Clarksville TN – Gary McClure was a graduate assistant in 1987 when Austin Peay State University Baseball  was without a coach.  Billy Merkel had stepped down, and athletic director Bob Brooks needed to replace him.  His options were to put out a nation-wide search, possibly interrupting fall practice and workouts, or he could name McClure as interim coach.

It wasn’t an easy decision, but as Gary McClure is approaching becoming the Ohio Valley Conference all-time wins leader, turns out it was the right decision.

After finishing well below the .500 mark the previous two seasons and consecutive last-place OVC South Division finishes, the Governors finished 23-27 overall in 1988 with a 10-12 OVC mark, as many league wins they had garnered combined over the previous two seasons.

As a result, McClure was named the Governors permanent head coach.

Now 25 years later, the Iowa native  needs just 25 victories to surpass the 776 victories recorded by Murray State’s Johnny Reagan.

Gary McClure will be inducted Saturday morning to the APSU Athletics Hall of Fame, and will join longtime APSU physician Dr. Cooper Beazley and Andrew Lorentzson at a 9:00am breakfast ceremony in the Dunn Center front lobby.

McClure has coached 37 first-team All-OVC players during his illustrious career, including eight OVC Pitchers of the Year and two Players of the Year.  He also has seen 29 of his players selected in the Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft.  Five of his players-pitcher Jamie “Cat” Walker, pitcher George Sherrill, pitcher Shawn Kelley, catcher A.J. Ellis and pitcher Matt Reynolds-reached the major leagues, with the latter four still at the major league level.

McClure also stands alone as the only coach in league history to capture 300 or more OVC victories.

Tickets are still available for the Hall of Fame breakfast, and for more information, 931.221.7761.

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