Wabash College head track and field coach Clyde Morgan will add one more item to his list of duties. Morgan has been selected as the new chairperson of the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III Hall of Fame Committee.
 
Morgan has served as a member of the DIII Hall of Fame Committee since 2007, but took over duties as chair beginning with the coaches' convention held in Phoenix, Arizona December 15-18.
 
The USTFCCCA Division III Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 2004. The process for induction starts after coaches nominate their former athletes.
 
"I'll receive nominations from coaches across the country," Morgan said. "I'll send those nominations out to the other committee members so we can meet at our convention to select the class that will be inducted for that year. Once the nominees are determined I will present the slate to the executive board and to the coaches at our annual meeting for approval. Then later at the actual ceremony I'll assist in organizing the presentation.
 
"I get to work with a great group of people on the committee, members like Carla Coffee, Kelly Beck, Chris Hall, and Donald Nichter. They all work hard and are great people to work with. We also have a lot of fun. That's a model our last chair, James Kluckhohn from Benedictine University, set throughout our committee work. I'm going to do the same thing --- keep it a fun and active atmosphere."
 
Morgan's passion for the sport, including its rich history, is unquestioned. Playing a key role in the Hall of Fame process is an even bigger bonus.
 
"I've had opportunities to join other committees, but I've really enjoyed this. I think our work is unique and exciting. Being a track and field junkie, it really hits another side of me. I get to look at nominations of some legendary athletes. I'm at the age now that I remember seeing some of these people who are being nominated compete.
 
"This is important to me because we get to recognize these phenomenal athletes from our sport. A lot of these people could have competed in Division I or Division II and have joined those halls of fame. It's important to our sport overall and to Division III in particular for people to see the type of athletes we get to work with each day. Our induction ceremony is held as part of the kickoff of the Division III National Championship Meet. Our current young men and women get to see these hall of famers and hear their stories. Those young athletes can be inspired to perhaps be on that stage someday. Every inductee's speech is addressed to those young people. They don't talk about themselves; they motivate the current athletes for the upcoming meet. That's what gets me excited. They continue to give back to the sport."
 
Morgan also sees a key connection between his role with the committee and the work he accomplishes day to day with his Little Giant team.
 
"Being involved with the Hall of Fame committee puts a lot of the training of our Wabash team in perspective. When I talk to our guys about the level of athletes who are being nominated for the Hall of Fame, it really excites them and gets them to work even harder.
 
"When I see these coaches nominate their former athletes, it gets me excited to hopefully someday be able to nominate one of our scholar-athletes for their high school hall of fame, or the Wabash Hall of Fame, or maybe even the National DIII Track and Field Hall of Fame."