Perry’s storied career began at Clearview

First in a series profiling the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame class of 2022. A May 14 banquet honoring the class is at German’s Villa in Vermilion.

Doyt Perry’s coaching career took him alongside Woody Hayes at Ohio State and then to Bowling Green, where he had great success and had the football stadium named in his honor.

Before all of that, Perry began at Clearview High School in various roles. There, he also had great success, and that success has landed him a spot in the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame.

Perry will be honored with eight others May 14 at a banquet at German’s Villa in Vermilion. The event begins at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. Perry is just the second honorary inductee into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame, joining former Cavaliers radio announcer Joe Tait.

A number of hall of fames have already induced Perry. The list includes the Ohio High School Football Coaches, College Football Coaches, Athletic Directors and the Lorain County Track & Field Halls.

Following his graduation from Bowling Green, Perry’s first job teaching and coaching was at Clearview. He was also a guidance counselor and the school’s principal for two years.

His first job as a coach was in 1933 with the basketball and track and field teams. Success followed Perry on both watches.

In 10 years, the basketball team was 161-35 and made the playoffs in nine seasons. The track and field team won seven county championships.

Those wondering why Perry wasn’t coaching football, it was because at the time Clearview did not field a team. So in 1937, Perry created one. Again, success followed. The next six seasons, Clearview was 32-9-4 and won four league crowns.

“The year I started football at Clearview with players who had never seen a game was my most challenging and satisfying experience,” Perry once said.

When Perry took as football coach at Bowling Green in 1955, the Falcons became instant winners. In 10 seasons, BG was 77-11-5 and won five Mid-American Conference champions. The 1959 team was 9-0 and crowned the small-college national champion by United Press International.

Perry died in 1992.