Serra Catholic to name court after Cleary

By Chris Harlan

Trib Total Media

Serra Catholic will name its basketball court after longtime girls coach Bill Cleary, the school announced Friday.

William J. Cleary Court will be dedicated officially in December,” said an announcement from associate principal Robert Childs. 

Cleary is retiring this summer after more than four decades working at the school as a teacher and athletic director and 34 seasons as girls basketball coach.

He won more than 650 games.

“Coach Cleary served Serra through his stewardship of the athletic program for 38 years, through his 41 years of teaching and through his camaraderie and fellowship with faculty, staff and coaches,” Childs said. “Mr. Cleary always exhibited good nature towards all who walked the halls of Serra Catholic.”

The school surprised Cleary with the news during a faculty picnic Friday. The school’s retirees were each recognized, ending with Cleary, who joked afterward he was expecting maybe a gift card for coffee.

“I was taken by surprise and overwhelmed,” he said. “I started crying. The emotions overcame me. Wow, it’s quite an honor.”

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