Dave's Legacy
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December 30, 1946 - June 5, 2002
David Clegg was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He ran high school track for Akron North and then went on to run track and cross country for The University of Akron.
David started his coaching career at Alliance High School. He coached track for 23 years and started the first cross country team, which he coached for 17 years. His Alliance cross country teams had a dual meet record of 107-35 and finished in the top ten at the state meet three times. He also coached Lowell Terrel to an Individual State Cross Country Championship. Lowell Terrel is pictured here, standing beside Dave.
Dave coached his last 9 years at Hoover High School. While he also turned the track program into a winner, it was with the Viking Cross Country program that he had his greatest success with his teams finishing in the top five at state each of his last five years. Dave and his assistant coach Debbie Lee are pictured here with their boys team of 2000.
During Dave's coaching career, he was named Stark County Coach of the Year in track and cross country ten times. In 1985, he was inducted into the State Track and Cross Country Hall of Fame, as seen in this photo during his induction. One of his elite athletes, sprinter Anthony Blair (Alliance High School) is pictured with him. In 2000 Dave was named OATCCC Career State Coach of the Year for Boys Cross Country. He had coached 12 state champions in track and cross country, as well as countless All-State performers.
Dave never stood still at the meets, constantly running from one area on the course to another to follow his runners progress. When Dave was not coaching, he loved to fish. According to his wife Judy, fishing seemed to be the one and only environment, where he could slow down and relax. Dave lost a battle with cancer in 2002 at the very young age of 56, leaving behind his wife Judy and 3 children. Judy still lives in North Canton and can often be seen attending the invitational named in her husband's honor. Dave, initially started this invitational meet, held annually at Hoover, while he was coaching, with Judy working closely nearby in the timing area. The invitational was later renamed in his memory, to recognize David's tireless commitment to the development of all runners as athletes and individuals.
Remember When...
Row 1- Megan Eberts, Emily Gurney (?), Allison McClure (Haedt), Erin Ricciardi, Megan Revoldt, Camie Griffith (Rodan), and Heidi Albrecht.
Row 2- Danielle (?), Jamie Adams, Brittany Eberts, Sarah Plottner, Jennifer Brown, Meredith Dawson Sajner, Ashley Ewing Redieck, and Jessica Stuffel.
Sarah Plottner was the lone girls state qualifier that year. She placed 71st with a time of 19:49.
