Surprise! Cleary honored for legendary career at Serra Catholic

By JOSE NEGRON

jnegron@yourmvi.com

Bill Cleary has spent much of his retirement hitting the golf course and spending time with family. 

On Saturday, a wedding reception was on the agenda.

Or so Cleary thought. 

“We were going to a wedding reception for my wife’s boss,” he said with a laugh. “I said, ‘I’m not even going to know anybody there.’

“I walked in and saw some of the things that said, ‘Congrats coach,’ and I thought we were in the wrong place.”

Instead of finding a jubilant wedding celebration, the longtime Serra Catholic girls basketball coach and athletic director was surprised when he entered a room full of family members, friends, coaches and former players for a retirement party at the Edgewood Country Club in Churchill. 

After spending more than 30 years at the school, Cleary retired from both of his roles at Serra Catholic earlier this year. 

“I’m overwhelmed and humbled. It was so great to catch up with all the kids that I’ve coached,” Cleary said. “It’s special that they thought enough of me to come back for something like this.” 

Former Serra Catholic standouts Laura Grimm and Kristen Stash helped organize the event, which included around 70 people in attendance. 

Among those there to celebrate with the legendary coach were players from the first Serra Catholic team Cleary guided, members of the 2005 state championship team and recent contributors to the success of the Eagles’ program. 

“It made it all worth while seeing them all here,” Cleary said. “I just wanted to help the kids, make a good program and be good for Serra. Those were always my goals and my intentions. I was just a guy who came to work every day and tried to do a good job.”

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