MEMPHIS - Mike Clary will retire from his duties as Rhodes' Director of Athletics this spring.  Clary, who was named the Athletic Director in September, 1990, is serving in his 37th year on the Rhodes athletic staff and in his 26th year as the Director of Athletics.  He will remain at Rhodes as the Head Women's Golf Coach and serve as a recruiter for prospective student-athletes.
 
Under Clary's guidance, the Lynx athletic program has experienced unprecedented growth and success.  Most recently, the Lynx captured the 2014-15 President's Trophy, signifying the top overall athletic program in the Southern Athletic Association.  In 1990, when Clary assumed leadership of the athletic program, Rhodes offered eight sports for men and five sports for women. In 2015-16 the Lynx offer ten sports for men and eleven sports for women.  Rhodes has  consistently ranked first in the Southern Athletic Association in the number of  student athletes earning All-SAA honor roll.
 
During Clary's tenure he's served as the head football, head track, head swimming and head women's golf coach.  He's the winningest football coach in Rhodes history.  From 1985-92  the Lynx compiled  a 54-15-5 record, which ranked Rhodes as one of the winningest NCAA Division III programs in the country.  Clary has built the women's golf team into a national power.  Rhodes won the 2014 NCAA Division III National Championship, placed 5th in 2015, and the Lynx currently rank #1 in NCAA Division III in scoring average.
 
"Being the Athletic Director at Rhodes has been a privilege and honor," said Clary.  "Our athletic program is on solid ground, we have a great staff, and I'm confident we will hire a new Athletic Director who will take the program to even greater heights."
 
A search for Clary's successor will begin immediately.