Betty Jo Clary arrived at Campbell College in the fall semester of 1976 but was already a pioneer in women’s collegiate sports. In the days before scholarships were provided to young ladies for athletic achievement, Betty Jo was a leading figure in the growth of female athletics in North Carolina.
A native of High Point and graduate of Western Carolina, she played a vital role as Campbell – and many other schools in the state – moved from AIAW to the NAIA and ultimately to NCAA Division I status in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Along the way, Betty Jo helped lay the foundation of Campbell’s women’s athletics program, while leading the basketball team to a 70-44 record and five-straight winning seasons.
In addition to carrying a full teaching load, she also coached Campbell’s softball team for several years and the volleyball squad for two seasons. In a career that spanned three decades, Betty Jo also coached field hockey and tennis during her tenure.
She was inducted into the Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.
In the next episode of Tales from the Creek, Fighting Camel Hall of Fame member Betty Jo Clary chats with Stan Cole about growing up in High Point, her path to Campbell, the growth of women’s athletics and much more.
