Entering his 38th season at Rhodes College,
Mike Clary has been a integral key to the Lynx Athletic Department. Clary graduated from Rhodes in 1977 where he competed in football and golf, leading the men's golf team to the Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship in 1977. Shortly after graduation, Clary would join the Rhodes staff.
Clary served as head football coach from 1984-96 and is the all-time winningest coach in Rhodes football history. From 1985-90, the Lynx compiled a 43-9-3 record, which ranked Rhodes in the top ten in NCAA Division III in winning percentage and as the winningest college football program in Tennessee. Coach Clary's teams won two College Athletic Conference championships and one Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship, and the 1988 team participated in the NCAA Division III national playoffs.
Clary was named Athletic Director in 1991 and proceeded to make numerous marks on the department. During his time, the number of student-athletes competing in varsity athletics tripled. Rhodes also consistently ranked among conference leaders in the number of athletes earning Academic Honor Roll, while ranking at the top of the conference in overall athletic success. Rhodes captured the 1991-92 SCAC President's Trophy and the 2014-15 SAA President's Trophy.
Despite his retirement as Athletic Director, Clary remains the head coach of women's golf and most recently won his second national championship in May. The Lynx also captured to 2014 national championship, the first NCAA team championship in school history. Clary also served as head coach for the track and field team from 1980-90, winning a CAC title in 1990, as well as the swimming and diving coach from 2003-05.
