Dick Clausen

Inducted Class of 1999

M.R. “Dick” Clausen followed the legendary J.F. “Pop” McKale as Director of Athletics at the University of Arizona from 1958-1972. He was the driving force behind Arizona’s departure from the Border Conference, as well as the formation of the Western Athletic Conference.

Dick greatly improved the University of Arizona’s competition schedule and enhanced its national stature. Among many exceptional coaches he hired Jerry Kindall, coach of three NCAA Championship UA baseball teams, and head track-and-field coach William Williams, the first black head coach of a Division I institution, Clausen was instrumental in the design of McKale Memorial Center, and was a founding member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Dick served as a juvenile court referee for Pima County. He was president of the YMCA, and a leader in the Kiwanis Club.

Due to his leadership in the NCAA, Dick was asked to serve on its prestigious Governing presidency of the U.S. Gymnastics Federation from 1966-1979, he was inducted into the Coe Collegiate Hall of Fame (1970), and the UA Bobcats Hall of Fame (1977). Clausen was later inducted into the NACDA Hall of Fame. (1986).