Cloherty, Miller named to Pennsylvania Hall of Fame

Clarion head swimming coach Bill Miller and 1962 Clarion graduate Robert "Tick" Cloherty were among the 13 new inductees into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in May. Kurt Angle, 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist and 1992 Clarion University graduate, also received a "Special Award" from the chapter.

Miller, head men's swimming coach for 19 seasons, has a dual meet record of 140-34 and 15 PSAC titles. The team has also been a force at the NCAA Division II Nationals, placing second in 1992; third in 1991, 88, and 84; fourth in 1997, 95, and 83; and fifth in 1989, 86, 82, and 81. Also the women's swimming head coach for the past 10 years, Miller has a dual meet record of 71-18 and 10 straight PSAC championships. At the NCAA Division II Nationals the women have finished second in 1993; third in 1994; fourth in 1997, 95, and 88; and fifth in 1996, 92, and 91. He was named NCAA Division II Men's "Coach of the Year" in 1992; Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Men's "Coach of the Year" in 1996, 95, 92, 91, and 85; and PSAC Women's "Coach of the Year" in 1997, 95, 94, 93, 92, and 91.

Cloherty, a 1993 inductee into the Clarion University Sports Hall of Fame, played football from 1958-61, starting all four years on the offensive and defensive lines. He was first team all conference and All-State all four years, and an Honorable Mention Little All-American during his senior year when he was the team captain. That year, the Golden Eagles played in the Gem Bowl in Erie. A football and basketball official for 33 years, he was selected the Tri-State's Outstanding Football Official in 1989 and is past president of the West Penn Basketball Officials.

A native of Pittsburgh and a 1953 graduate of Central High School, Cloherty received an education degree from Clarion in 1962. He has worked in the Penn Hills, Swissvale, and Woodland Hills School Districts, as well as for the John P. Cloherty company. He and his wife, Jeannie, reside in Pittsburgh.

Angle was the Olympic Freestyle Gold Medalist at 220 pounds at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA. He was a two-time NCAA Champion and three-time All-American while wrestling for Clarion. His overall collegiate record was 116-10-2 and he was a four-time Eastern Wrestling League and three-time PSAC champion. He received the PSAC Award of Merit in 1997 and was inducted into the EWL Hall of Fame in March. A native of Mt. Lebanon, he is the weekend sports anchor for WPGH-Fox 53 TV in Pittsburgh.