Gary McClure

Gary McClure
Biographical details
Born (1964-07-02) July 2, 1964 (age 60)
Keosauqua, Iowa, U.S.
Alma materAustin Peay, '87
Playing career
1983–1984Southeastern CC (IA)
1985–1986Cumberland
Position(s)SS
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1987Austin Peay (asst.)
1988–2015Austin Peay
2021Burlington Bees
Head coaching record
Overall847–750–4
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
OVC Regular season: 7 (1994, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2012)
OVC Tournament: 6 (1996, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Awards
Inducted into Austin Peay Athletic Hall of Fame (2012)
Records
Austin Peay All Time Wins Leader (847)
Ohio Valley Conference All Time Wins Leader (847)
Most Ohio Valley Conference Games Won (363)

Gary McClure is a former American college baseball coach, formerly serving as head coach of the Austin Peay Governors baseball program. He was named to that position prior to the 1988 season. With 847 wins, McClure is the winningest coach in Austin Peay baseball history, as well as the winningest coach in Ohio Valley Conference baseball history.[1][2][3]

McClure played two years at Southeastern Community College in Iowa before completing his eligibility at Cumberland. He then completed his degree at Austin Peay, and served as a student assistant coach. With the retirement of then-coach Billy Merkel, McClure was hired as head coach just two years removed from his playing days. Under McClure, the Governors won thirteen regular season and tournament OVC titles. They appeared in six NCAA Regionals.[1] McClure has coached six major league players Jamie Walker, George Sherrill, A. J. Ellis, Shawn Kelley, Matt Reynolds, and Ryne Harper. McClure was inducted into the Austin Peay Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. McClure has been a candidate for several major conference coaching vacancies, most recently at Iowa. He withdrew his name from consideration for the Iowa position in the summer of 2013, electing to remain at Austin Peay.[2]

McClure was hired by the Battle Creek Bombers of the North Woods League in 2016 where his team finished with a record of 40-33 while going 21-16 in the second half. They made the playoffs for only the second time in the team's ten year history. They beat the Madison Mallards in the first round and then lost in the semifinals to the Rapids Rafters, the eventual 2016 champion.

In 2017, McClure was hired by the Kokomo Jackrabbits. In 2019, he was hired as manager of the Milwaukee Milkmen for their inaugural 2019 season in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball but was not retained for 2020 following the team's 38-62 performance. In 2021 McClure was hired as the Manager by the Burlington Bee's for its inaugural season in the Prospect League a collegiate summer Baseball league in Burlington Iowa. In 2024 McClure was hired as the manager by the Cape Catfish in Cape Girardeau Missouri in the Prospect League a collegiate summer Baseball league for it's upcoming 2025 season.

Head coaching record

This table shows McClure's record as a collegiate head coach.[4]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Austin Peay (Ohio Valley Conference) (1988–present)
1988 Austin Peay 23–27 10–12 3rd (South)
1989 Austin Peay 32–25–1 10–7 3rd OVC Tournament[a]
1990 Austin Peay 31–25 6–8 4th OVC Tournament[b]
1991 Austin Peay 15–37–1 6–11 5th
1992 Austin Peay 29–28–1 14–7 2nd OVC Tournament[c]
1993 Austin Peay 30–22 13–8 5th
1994 Austin Peay 27–31 12–6 1st OVC Tournament[d]
1995 Austin Peay 24–32 9–12 6th
1996 Austin Peay 44–22 13–7 T-1st NCAA Regional
1997 Austin Peay 28–31 14–10 3rd OVC Tournament[e]
1998 Austin Peay 23–32 9–15 8th
1999 Austin Peay 29–27 13–10 5th
2000 Austin Peay 32–27 14–10 4th OVC Tournament[f]
2001 Austin Peay 32–30 9–12 5th OVC Tournament[g]
2002 Austin Peay 30–27 12–9 3rd OVC Tournament[h]
2003 Austin Peay 27–27–1 14–5–1 1st OVC Tournament[i]
2004 Austin Peay 35–21 20–7 1st OVC Tournament[j]
2005 Austin Peay 38–24 16–11 2nd NCAA Regional
2006 Austin Peay 32–27 14–13 5th OVC Tournament[k]
2007 Austin Peay 40–22 19–8 1st NCAA Regional
2008 Austin Peay 27–29 14–12 3rd OVC Tournament[l]
2009 Austin Peay 22–30 7–12 9th
2010 Austin Peay 28–25 8–13 7th
2011 Austin Peay 34–24 17–8 1st NCAA Regional
2012 Austin Peay 40–24 19–7 T-1st NCAA Regional
2013 Austin Peay 47–15 22–7 2nd NCAA Regional
2014 Austin Peay 23–33 14–16 T-7th
2015 Austin Peay 25-26 15-15 7th
Austin Peay: 847–750–4 363–292–1
Total: 847–750–4

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

  1. ^ The top four finishers in the OVC qualified for the Tournament in 1989.
  2. ^ The top four finishers in the OVC qualified for the Tournament in 1990
  3. ^ The top four finishers in the OVC qualified for the tournament in 1992.
  4. ^ The top four finishers in the OVC qualified for the tournament in 1994.
  5. ^ The top four finishers in the OVC qualified for the tournament in 1997.
  6. ^ The top four finishers in the OVC qualified for the tournament in 2008.
  7. ^ The top six finishers in the OVC qualified for the tournament in 2001.
  8. ^ The top six finishers in the OVC qualified for the tournament in 2002.
  9. ^ The top six finishers in the OVC qualified for the tournament in 2003.
  10. ^ The top six finishers in the OVC qualified for the tournament in 2004.
  11. ^ The top six finishers in the OVC qualified for the tournament in 2006.
  12. ^ The top six finishers in the OVC qualified for the tournament in 2008.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Gary McClure". Austin Peay State Governors. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Austin Peay State University Baseball's Gary McClure withdraws name from consideration for Iowa Head Coaching Job". Clarksville Online. July 10, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  3. ^ Chris Austin (April 5, 2013). "Austin Peay State University baseball coach Gary McClure becomes OVC all-time wins leader; Govs beat Tech 7-3". Clarksville Sports Network. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  4. ^ 2012 Media Guide (PDF). Austin Peay State Governors. p. 29. Retrieved October 6, 2013.