Gary Mcclure

For nearly 30 years, Gary McClure dedicated his life to Austin Peay State University’s Governors baseball team. Notably, McClure is the winningest baseball coach in the Ohio Valley Conference with 822 victories as of 2015.

In 1986, Gary McClure entered Austin Peay State University as an undergraduate student to finish the last year of his Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Physical Education. He continued his education at the University until completing his Masters of Science in Health and Human Performance in 1988. During this time, Gary McClure served as the assistant baseball coach for the University’s Governors baseball team. Between 1986 and 1988, Gary McClure worked closely with the team’s head coach by recruiting, organizing practices, pitcher and infielder coaching, maintaining the field, and ensuring academic compliance. Notably, as assistant coach, Gary McClure recruited the first team to advance to a championship game which happened in just his second year as the head coach,

In the fall of 1987, Gary McClure replaced Billy Merkel as the team’s interim head coach on a probationary basis. Gary McClure was told by then-athletics director Bob Brooks that he would be considered for the position of head coach if he could prove himself in the 1987 season. Gary McClure accepted that challenge and did more than prove himself. In just one season, Gary McClure led the Governors to more wins than they had had in the previous two. Brooks officially appointed McClure as the team’s permanent head coach in June of 1988.

Nearly three decades later McClure’s players and teams have accomplished some major feats, including three OVC “Player of the Year” awards (Randy McDermott in 1992, Nate Manning in 1996 and Craig Massoni in 2013) and nine OVC “Pitcher of the Year” honors: Jamie Walker (1992), Shane Dortch (1994), Craig Smith (1996), Mike Weel (2000), Jeff Mault (2004), Rowdy Hardy (2005), Shawn Kelley (2007), Jeremy Dobbs (2011) and Tyler Rogers (2013). McClure also has cultivated 49 first-team All-OVC players during his career. Lastly, 7 of McClure’s former players have been inducted into the Austin Peay Athletics Hall of Fame, Jamie “Cat” Walker (2002), Nate Manning (2003), Chuck Abbott (2004), AJ Ellis (2008), Ryan Bennett (2010), Shawn Kelley (2013), and Rowdy Hardy (2016). Several more are sure to follow when they become eligible.