The Early Years

Born on December 12,1881 in Muncie, Indiana, Zora G. Clevenger was a multi talented football, basketball and baseball player followed by coach and later, director of athletics.

Clevenger attended Muncie High School before starting his college at Indiana University Bloomington in 1900.

Though only 5’7” and 145 pounds, he was captain of Bloomington’s baseball, basketball and football teams, and the college’s first Hall of Fame athlete.

He was a popular figure, and after hitting a home run to win the final season game during the 1902 season, found himself in receipt of a gold watch bought by his fellow students as a gift for leading the Hoosiers to victory.

After captaining his side to a huge win against in Illinois in 1903, he and his fellow teammates were carried off the field and a big celebration ensued.

Coaching History & Timeline

Clevenger graduated from university in 1903, but stayed on as Head Coach for two years focusing on the basketball and baseball teams.

After this period he moved onto Nebraska Wesleyan University where he coached basketball, football and baseball.

With a clear talent for multiple sports, 1911 was the year he took up the roles of head football, baseball and basketball coach.

Although the Volunteers opened their season with a win against Mooney School 27-0, the next game was a loss to Georgia Tech going 0-24. The rest of the season was rocky with only two more wins followed by more losses and a couple of ties. The Volunteers finished the season at a loss, going 3-4-2.

During the 1913 season the Volunteers went 4-4, but Clevenger’s career defining moment came in 1914 when he guided his team to its first ever undefeated season.

September 26 was the season opener against Carson-Newman and the Volunteers beat them 89-0 on home turf at Waite Field. Clevenger and his team then had eight consecutive wins, finishing the season 9-0.

Of these nine wins was a victory against Vanderbilt University 16-14, who had been a notoriously difficult side to score points against, let alone beat.

This incredible season led to the University of Tennessee winning the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) Conference, and the team were only the second ever undefeated football team in Volunteers history.

Clevenger had one final season as Head Coach at the University of Tennessee, and went 4-4 for the season, before moving on to Kansas State in 1916. His Tennessee record finished at 26-15-2, whilst simultaneously leading his basketball team to back to back undefeated seasons in 1915 and 1916.

At Kansas State he multitasked, yet again coaching the basketball, football and baseball teams. He even took on the role as athletic director during this time.

His record at Kansas State was excellent, going 19-9-2 during his time as Head Coach.

In 1921, Clevenger focused his energy on being an athletic director exclusively, moving to the University of Missouri. He held this position for two years and then returned to his alma mater, where he served as the Director of Athletics until 1946. This was his last post and the longest term he served at 23 years, before retiring.

Life After Coaching

It was evident that he couldn’t just leave the world of sport, so he continued to serve on a variety of committees related to football, basketball and baseball.

Notably, he founded the annual East-West Shrine football game.

Affectionately known as “Mr.Clev”, he was much respected by not only his peers but later generations, not only for his prowess as a player but for his dedication and passion as a coach.

He had a long lifespan for someone born in the late 1800s, and passed away on November 24, 1970, in Bloomington, Indiana at the age of 88.