Legendary volleyball coach Teri Clemens grew up playing multiple sports and didn’t see the differences between the way boys and girls sports were treated until she was a teenager. “I started playing sports at age five. Because we were an athletic family and my brother was a year older, I didn’t even know inequities existed until high school,” she described. “My sports experience was expansive from backyard softball to soccer and grass hockey. From there, I played grade school basketball and organized softball.”
She knew as early as the third grade that she wanted to be a coach. “It was all based on one response from my dad. I asked if the coach got to keep the basketballs at her house. He said ‘Probably, yes’ and that’s all I needed to hear. I was hooked,” she declared.
Clemens went on to have a Hall of Fame coaching career, winning seven NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship titles in her 14 seasons at Washington University, posting a 529-77 career record (.873 winning percentage) and a 136-1 record in UAA play as the Bears won 11 of the first 12 Association championships.
Clemens and her players celebrating a fourth consecutive NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship in 1994
Recognizing the Inequities
“We had one coach in high school, while the boys had three of four on their bench. They had more extensive schedules, more equipment, and more practice time than we had,” she recalled. “At the same time, I was fortunate to be at a school that cared. My coaches fought for equity. I knew it was a lot harsher at other schools.”
One of the main areas of difference she witnessed was in college recruiting. “I saw the boys being recruited heavily. While I was a very strong athlete, I only had two college coaches call me during high school,” Clemens explained.
She was spurred by her third-grade dream of coaching to compete beyond high school, eventually landing at Northeast Missouri State University, which is now called Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. “Girls were not encouraged to play collegiate sports nearly as heavily as boys, but I was different than most,” stating a fact than is easily recognizable by all those who know both her success and her overcoming major health issues that nearly took her life. “I never wavered, so it did not really matter that I was receiving less attention or had fewer opportunities. I actually ‘studied’ my high school coaches, knowing that I would be one of them someday. It was always on my mind.”
College Years
Clemens began her collegiate career in 1974, just two years after Title IX was signed into law. “My coach helped me get a ‘presidential scholarship.’ They did not yet offer women’s athletic scholarships. I was aware that men were being paid. Meanwhile, I worked in the cafeteria from 5-8 a.m., then went to classes, and then to practice. Those were exhausting days,” she expressed. “My parents sent me $10 a week, which I received, without exception, every Monday in the mail. It is all they could afford.”
Despite her busy schedule, Clemens made sure to voice her concerns about the opportunities not available to women that were commonplace with men. “By my second year, my athletic director Ken Gardner, who I very much admired, but also had many conversations with about the inequities, offered me the first athletic scholarship the school had ever offered a woman. I was so proud and mostly ecstatic to tell my parents,” she revealed. “My joy was all about relieving my parents of this expense. I had always competed as hard as the men. Suddenly, we saw changes. We had better uniforms, better schedules, traveled more, and had better practice opportunities than we previously had. Looking back, I realize that we were pioneers.”
She acknowledges that regardless of what was going on in terms of equality, she was happy to be competing and eventually coaching. “Even in high school and college when inequities were quite glaring at times, I always saw the glass half full,” Clemens stated. “I was grateful to be on the field or court at whatever time they offered it to women. I knew my coaches were fighting for our rights and I was excited when Title IX passed as I was aware of its importance.”
As a coach and athletic director at Incarnate Word Academy, where she posted a 119-12 record and led the team to three consecutive state titles from 1982-84, Clemens didn’t face any issues around equality. “It was an all-girls school. No inequities,” she laughed. “My expectations were high when I went to Washington University.”
WashU
“When I interviewed for the volleyball coaching position, I knew I had to ask tough questions. I had been fortunate in my years at an all-girls high school to not have to battle for rights because we had them all,” she said. “The athletic director, John Schael, had the right answers for me. Equal opportunities for our practices, budgets, training facilities, locker rooms, travel, and equipment.”
Clemens always stressed that being successful required the same thing from everyone. “I always coached athletes and being at a school where girls got everything, I didn’t even know if it would be an issue where there were men and women. I was sheltered being at that high school,” she admitted. “I saw no differences in the needs of male and female athletes in what it took to win. My expectation was that I would get what it took to run a first-class program that wanted to win, and that’s exactly what I got.”
Although she did have to wait until her second year to get an assistant coach and enough equipment, Clemens always felt supported. “John wanted equity as much as I did, and he wanted to give both men and women what they needed to win. I was not afraid to walk into his office to ask,” she communicated. “It was a fair program, and I would not have stayed if it was not. I did see inequities in many of the programs we competed against, especially early in my career with overworked coaches with non-existent budgets. I was always grateful working at a strong university, and always choosing to put myself in a winning situation.”
Current State
“I do think girl’s/women’s sports have obviously come a long way. Having said that, I also think many athletic departments get away with the basic essentials that they must have for women,” she reflected. “There are also super programs who want everything for all their athletes. I interviewed with one such program in the SEC (NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference). I was not interested in leaving Washington U., but a school did talk me into a visit with no pressure. I asked what the budget would be, and the athletic director laughed and said it was his job to help me win. If I needed it, I would get it.”
“I think it is important that athletic administrators look at their student-athletes as just that – student-athletes. Not male or female athletes, just athletes,” she continued. “Then the disparity in meeting needs wouldn’t exist. I know there are unrealistic pressures from television, press, media, and fans, but within the department, equity for all athletes should exist.”
Clemens has never taken for granted the opportunity to coach and to play to this day. She is still competing at a high level, now in pickleball. She qualified for the 2021 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, choosing just to compete in the doubles events. She and Jay Stringer won the mixed doubles gold medal in 4.0 mixed doubles in the 60-and-over bracket that included a tournament-record 43 teams. They played 19 matches en route to the gold medal.
She would love to see the appreciation she and her pickleball teammates have for the opportunity to compete to resonate with today’s athletes. “One of my struggles with today’s athletes is the lack of appreciation and that starts at home with the parents. Then the teachers and coaches must expect student-athletes to appreciate every person and everything they receive. We talked about appreciation regularly with our athletes,” she discussed. “Too many athletes, male and female possess a sense of entitlement. Perhaps the study of Title IX would help them appreciate what they have today.”