Hall of Fame
Bill Clinger was the pioneer coach of the Grand Valley State men's indoor and outdoor track & field programs (1968), while taking over as the cross country head coach in 1968. Clinger operated the men's indoor and outdoor track program with limited facilities until 1980, but they always competed at a high level during those rustic times. Clinger led the Lakers to the NAIA District 23 Indoor Championships during the 1974-75 campaigns, while the cross country squads finished as the GLIAC runner-up four times during his career. His 1983 cross country team was the first at GVSU to qualify for the NCAA DII championships, finishing 13th in the country. The 1974-75 outdoor track & field squad's second-place finish at the GLIAC Championships secured the President's Cup trophy (GLIAC all sports crown) by one point over Ferris State. Clinger was named the NAIA District 23 Indoor and Outdoor track & field Coach of the Year in 1974-75, while also being named the 1983 GLIAC Cross Country Coach of the Year. Clinger tutored Bob Eubanks, who still holds the school-record in the 100 (10.5) and 200 (20.8).
