Coach Tim Cleland will begin his 63rd season as head coach of Delta High School Tennis during the Spring 2024 girls” tennis season. A 2008 inductee into the Indiana Tennis Hall of Fame, he is the all-time winningest coach in Indiana HS Tennis history with 1,179 victories in boys’ and girls’ tennis.
CAREER RECORD (62 seasons)
1,179 wins
215 losses
85% percentage
Only a handful of Indiana high school coaches in any sport have reached more than 1,000 career wins. Coach Cleland joins Steve Shondell of Muncie Burris volleyball (1,209 victories), Ken Schreiber of LaPorte baseball, Rick Miller of Floyd Central tennis, and Rex Peckinpaugh of New Castle wrestling in the 1,000 Victory Club. Cleland is the only active coach in Indiana with 1,000 or more wins.
With a record of 1,179 – 215, Coach Cleland is now more than 960 games above .500. For perspective, that means the Eagles could go 0-20 for 48 straight seasons and he still would be above .500 for his career!
Coach Cleland has helped DHS Tennis become one of Indiana’s premier high school tennis programs. In his 62 seasons, more than half (32) have ended at the IHSAA State Finals in team, doubles, or singles competition. Twenty-eight of his 62 teams have reached the Top 10 State Rankings.
An amazing 47 of his 62 teams have been ranked in the Top 20 in the state poll.
Coach Cleland’s boys’ and girls’ teams have won 43 IHSAA regional titles, which is nearly half of the 91 regional titles that Delta HS has won in all sports in the 56-year history of the school.
He has coached at least one All-State Singles, All-State Doubles, or Academic All-State player for 34 consecutive calendar years (1990 through 2023).
Delta is the smallest public school in Indiana history to reach the IHSAA Tennis Team State Finals on 10 or more occasions. The Eagles have participated in the State Team Finals in boys’ tennis in 2004, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2016 and in girls’ tennis in 2000, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023.
The 2022 girls’ team reached the IHSAA Final Four, joining the 2000 girls, 2004 boys, and 2014 boys.
Coach Cleland is a co-founder of the SmashCancer tennis match between Delta and Yorktown high schools. SmashCancer began in 2012 and annually raises money for local cancer organizations, including the Cancer Center at IU Health Ball, the Little Red Door Cancer Services of ECI, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, and other beneficiaries. The 2023 SmashCancer raised a record total of more than $20,000. The event has raised over $92,000 since its inception.
Throughout Indiana, many schools have started their own SmashCancer tennis events modeled after the Delta-Yorktown event.
Coach Cleland served as President of the Indiana HS Tennis Coaches Association for 25 years from 1999 until resigning that position in 2024.
Coach Cleland’s accomplishments include:
- 34 years as boys’ coach: 668 victories, 121 losses
- 28 years as girls’ coach: 511 victories, 93 losses
- Total career record: 1,179 victories, 215 losses
Leader among Indiana HS Tennis Coach Career Victory Leaders - Member, Indiana HS Tennis Hall of Fame, 2008
(Read about his induction) - One of eight finalists, National Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year, 2013-14
(award given by the National Federation of High School Coaches - One of eight finalists, National Boys’ Tennis Coach of the Year, 2005-06
(award given by the National Federation of High School Coaches) - Member, Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame, 2004
- State Boys’ Coach of the Year, 2004
- State Girls’ Coach of the Year, 2000
- Finalist, State Coach of the Year, 12 other years
- Central Indiana Tennis Association Service Award, 2006
- Indiana Dollars for Scholars “Hoosier Hero” Award, 2010
- Frazier Foundation Teacher Award, 2013
- Flame of Leadership Award from Greater Muncie Council on Youth Leadership, 2013
- Delaware County Person of Integrity Award from Muncie Committee for Integrity Enhancement, 2014
- Ed Yarbrough Community Service Award for Indiana HS Tennis, 2021
Team Highlights
- 2023 Girls’ State Finals (quarterfinals)
- 2022 Girls’ State Finals (3rd/4th place)
- 2019 Girls’ State Finals (quarterfinals)
- 2018 Girls’ State Finals (quarterfinals)
- 2016 Boys’ State Finals (quarterfinals)
- 2014 Boys’ State Finals (3rd/4th place)
- 2013 Boys’ State Finals (quarterfinals)
- 2011 Girls’ State Finals (quarterfinals)
- 2010 Boys’ State Finals (quarterfinals)
- 2004 Boys’ State Finals (3rd Place)
- 2000 Girls’ State Finals (3rd Place)
- 16 consecutive boys’ regional championships (1995-2010)
- 7 consecutive boys’ regional championships (2012-2018)
- 30 consecutive boys’ sectional championships (1993-current)
- 8 consecutive girls’ regional championships (2015-current)
- 4 consecutive girls’ regional championships (2004-2007)
- 30 of 31 girls’ sectional championships (current)
- State Top 10 boys’ rankings (12 consecutive seasons 1996-2007)
- State Top 10 rankings (streak of 17 straight boys’/girls’ seasons, Fall 1999-Fall 2008)
- Girls’ Final Eight (10 times)
- Boys’ Final Eight (12 times)
- Teams or Individuals at State Finals, 32 of his 62 seasons
- Top 10 State Rankings, 28 of his 62 seasons
- #3 Final State Ranking (boys 2004 — highest ranking in school history)
- 155 straight Hoosier Heritage Conference victories — combined boys and girls (Fall 1997 to Spring 2008)
- 100 straight Hoosier Heritage Conference victories — combined boys and girls (Fall 2010 to Fall 2017)
- Has coached 56 All-State Doubles players, 18 All-State Singles players, and 22 Academic All-State players. These players have been honored on All-State teams more than 198 different times.
- Has coached at least one All-State Singles, All-State Doubles, or Academic All-State player for 34 consecutive calendar years (1990 through 2023)
Individual Highlights
- Gwendolyn Clark, Mental Attitude Award Winner at State Finals (2022)
- Bradley Wuthrich, Mental Attitude Award Winner at State Finals (2013)
- Alison Peckinpaugh, Mental Attitude Award Winner at State Finals (2000)
- Hayley Hall, State Singles Runner-Up (2006)
- Tynan Dishman / Maggie Manor, State Doubles Runner-Up (2021)
- Brandon Jackson / Walker Boyle, State Doubles Runner-Up (2020)
- Dan Klingenberg / Jeff Price, State Doubles Runner-Up (2007)
- Sarah Peckinpaugh/Kat Yadon, State Doubles Runner-Up (2002)
- Daniel Jackson / Kelly Robbins, State Doubles Runner-Up (2001)
- Sarah Peckinpaugh/Ashli Smith, State Doubles Runner-Up (2001)
- Kaus Christopher, State Singles 3rd Place (1991)
- Kate Peckinpaugh / Andrea Bookmyer, State Doubles 3rd Place (1995)
- Patrick Bryan / Alan Robinson, State Doubles 3rd Place (2001)
- Ethan Grove / Evan Rodenberger, State Doubles 3rd Place (2011)
- Teaghan Dishman / Kaylin Gibson, State Doubles 3rd Place (2015)
- Aly Ferguson / Andrea Bookmyer, State Doubles 3rd Place (1997)
- Aly Ferguson / Andrea Bookmyer, State Doubles 4th Place (1996)
- Zach Ervin, State Singles 4th Place (2006)
- Katie Bryan / Kristin Crider, State Doubles 4th Place (2005)
- Ben Bryan, State Singles 4th Place (2010)
- Ellie Snider, State Singles (2017)
- Alec Robillard, First Team All-State Singles (2015)
- Madison Ashman, First Team All-State Singles, First Team Academic All-State and Indiana All-Star (2014)
- Evan Rodenberger, First Team All-State Doubles, First Team Academic All-State and Indiana All-Star (2012)
- Alec Robillard, Ben Bryan, Zach Ervin, Dan Klingenberg, Kaus Christopher, Andy Rector, Bob Darby, J.D. Greenlee, Blain Keller, Daniel Jackson, Billy Ruxton, Ryan Orr, Caleb Cooper, Adrienne Campbell, Beth Miller, Hayley Hall, Kristin McKinney all NCAA Division I or Division II tennis players
- Numerous other smaller college tennis participants
Background
- Grew up in Columbus, Indiana
- Graduated from Hauser HS in Hope, Ind. (1981)
- All-State Tennis Team, senior year
- Played Varsity Baseball and Varsity Tennis
- Graduated summa cum laude from Ball State University (1987)
- Worked 13 years as sports journalist (1983-1996)
- Teaches journalism at Delta HS (1998-current)
- Tennis Instructor, Muncie Family YMCA (1989-current)
- President, Indiana HS Tennis Coaches Association (1999-2024)