Grand Valley State head track & field and cross country coach, Jerry Baltes, announced that the pioneer of the GVSU track & field and cross country programs, Bill Clinger, has passed away. 
 
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 was inducted into the Grand Valley State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012,  
 
"What I have continued to recognize over the years and even more so this past week hearing from so many of his student athletes was the Coach Clinger cared deeply about his student-athletes," said Baltes.  "He did a lot with a little in regard to resources and laying the foundation of GVSU Track and Field. He not only developed his student athletes for competition, but most importantly he prepared his student-athletes for success out in the real world. I am thankful I got to know Coach Clinger over the years and was able to witness his induction into the GVSU Athletics Hall of Fame," added Baltes.
 
 
Below are comments from student-athletes and others that were impacted by Coach Clinger.
 
Bill Clinger spread friendship throughout our college and then university. Professionally he built our track program and made it a winner and then turning the program over to the future Lakers to build upon his strong foundation he set for GVSU Track and Field.
 
Don Lubbers GVSU President 1969-2001
 
I initially met Coach Clinger in the 1980s during interviews for the GV Sports show. In my eyes he is a Grand Valley State legend that built the foundation for the success GV Track and Field and Cross Country enjoys today. After he retired from coaching, seeing him at various events was always a pleasure as he greeted me with a warm smile and kindness. He was a great gentleman that will be missed. 
 
Chris Barbee
GV Class of 1988
Former GV Alumni Director (2002-2021)
 
 
Coach Clinger was a great coach and even better mentor. Coach was always looking out for what was best for Grand Valley State and helping athletes in the classroom and improving performance. 
 
Jeff Finn GVSU Track and Field Student-Athlete---1988 to 1990
 
 
Coach Clinger inspired Lakers to strive to do their best. To look beyond where they were to where they could be. God bless this man for his many outstanding contributions to Grand Valley State students."
 
Dean Breest Track and Field Student-Athlete---1970-74

  
Coach had a low-key approach and leaned heavily on team leaders to make sure everyone was kept in line and competed at their peak.  Loved the time competing for GVSU and Coach Clinger. He was always a gentleman and made sure you realized you could do much more than you ever thought you could.
 
God bless him and RIP. Well earned. 

Mike Walters  GVSU Track and Field Student-Athlete - 1973-1976

 
Fall 1975, Taking a golf class taught by Coach Clinger. Wore my original Nike green and yellow Oregon Waffles from my high school x/c days. He noticed, we started taking, and the next thing I know I'm on the x/c team. Four-year letterwinner, graduated in 1979.  
 
Jamie Marsh  GVSU Track and Field Student-Athlete - 1975-1979
 
 
Bill Clinger was a very warm and genuine individual.  He welcomed me with open arms when I came to GVSU in 1976. He greatly appreciated my efforts as the Athletic Trainer while helping his track and cross country athletes who he cared for deeply. He was fun to have a conversation with at any time because he had a great sense of humor. His students in his PE classes will always remember his teaching in the "Bill Clinger blue windbreaker "
 
Doug "Doc" Woods GVSU Athletic Trainer/ Head Softball Coach 1976- 2015


I first met Coach on a college visit to discuss running for Grand Valley State.  One of his questions for me was "Why would you like to run for Grand Valley, we are a small school, our indoor track facility has just been condemned, and we have no outdoor track?  I replied that my first interest is academics, and I am impressed with the biology program here.  He replied, "we'd be happy to have you in our program, we have some big plans for the future."  Coach's character was never one to try to mince words, he told it like it was. He had a great sense of humor and often filled in conversations with a humorous comment and many times about his orange Volkswagon Bug he drove.  A few of us commented after practice one day that the tires on his Bug were practically bald and that he better get some new ones - he replied "what, those still have air in them!"  He was a frugal man and often reminded us after an away meet and a meal at Ponderosa or the Swedish Smorgasbord on the way home, "only one dessert now, you're not shot putters."  In 1981 I qualified individually for Division II nationals and the race was in Lowell, Massachusetts.  The two of us flew out there with the team from Ferris, stayed at the same hotel with them and shared their rented station wagon.  Ferris' coach did all the driving with Coach Clinger in the front passenger seat.  Every time we crossed an overpass or a bridge, their coach would always drift close to the guard rail.  I could see Coach tensing up and commented, "hey coach, you're picking the flies off the guard rail over here!"  After the meet, we all drove down to Boston for some sight-seeing and dinner.  On the way back to Lowell, there was another overpass, and we again drifted toward the rail and then there was a loud bang and I could see sparks in the road behind us.  When we arrived back at the hotel, the rear bumper was missing off the car and Coach put his hand on Ferris' coach's shoulder and said, "hope you got the insurance."
He treated us all with respect and he grew our CC team from meeting our 5^th man at my first Cross Country meet to qualifying for the NAIA Nationals as a team in 1979, to qualifying for the Division II nationals as a team in 1983.  
I have very fond memories and a lot of respect for Coach!
Respectfully,

Glen Bradley Track & Field/Cross Country Student-Athlete 1979 - 1984

 
Great, kind man and Coach. Gave me my start at GV as a track official. 
Coach established a solid foundation for GVSU track and field.  Adding a cliche, "he was a kind and gentle man."

Al Owens - Grand Valley State Athletics 


When I reflect on Coach Clinger, I see a vivid image of him in a GVSU windbreaker and a classic White Bucket Hat on his head, with his orange VW Beetle parked nearby.
My fondest memories at GVSU are from Track and Cross Country while being coached by Bill Clinger. Running both spring and fall for three years meant spending a lot of time together. We had many interactions, including while I drove the team van or bus as he sat nearby. I think I became his favorite bus driver. It was especially rewarding seeing his smile and eyes "light up" with excitement after a particularly strong performance and win– in contrast to his normal calm self.
I grew to value his reserved demeanor and influence on my life more as the years went by after graduation. It was a truly special day on Oct. 19, 2012 to honor him with our presence and see him inducted into the GVSU Laker Hall of Fame.
Thank You Coach

Doug Kuiper, Class of 1982 Co-captain Men's Track & Field

 
As a Freshman, I met with Coach Clinger, to discuss the program, he welcomed me to walk-on to join the team.
 
Unknown at that time, I didn't realize that by being a part of the team, would be an instrumental part of my undergraduate collegiate experience at GVSU. Since traveling most weekends in the winter and spring to track meets, my teammates became my friends, of which some are still friends as of today.
 
Coach Clinger knew how to vary his leadership/coaching style in order to relate to every individual on the team, to maximize everyone's potential, while providing team cohesiveness. But he never lost the reason why each of us was in school to compete our education and be successful in each of our lives.
 
Thank you,
 
Bob Carnes ---Camarillo, California--- track & field (indoor and outdoor) for Coach Clinger during the 1988, 1989, 1990 (his last season).

 
Coach Clinger had a big challenge in starting up a collegiate t&f/cc program with very little funding.  His communication and interpersonal skills plus caring about his athletes were critical in doing that successfully.  I loved running, and I wanted to see if I could compete after my time in the army.  He was very supportive and gave me that opportunity, and participating as a GV athlete really helped me have to manage my time and energy in order to succeed in both athletics and academics .  I graduated from GVSC with High Honors (3.82 GPA) in December of 1974 with a BS in Business Admin (Accounting emphasis),and passed the CPA exam and had a successful work career in Budget/Finance/Accounting.
Rest in peace Coach Clinger- you were a good person who was appreciated and will be remembered!  
 
Jim Darcy- GVSU Track and Field Student-Athlete 1971-1974
 
 
When I think back about my time as an athlete under Coach Clinger, I remember him as coach you could always rely on.  I knew he would be there on time at practice, organized and ready to go. I'm sure I deserved a few, but I don't remember him having any annoyed or angry words with me. Instead, I remember a coach that was patient, encouraging and treated me with respect.  He was a significant influence on my life during the time he was my coach and beyond.
 
Tony Tidswell--- GVSU Track and Field Student Athlete 1983-1986