As Concordia cuts athletics, Cleary adds new programs

HOWELL — As Concordia University cuts athletic programs in Ann Arbor, sports teams at Cleary University in Howell continue to grow.

Strong investments in athletics at Cleary have resulted in the creation of 19 programs for men and women, and a recruiting effort by coaches that drew about 320 athletes from around the world to the Howell campus during the 2023-24 school year.

Cleary leadership is confident the funding is justified for the benefits it provides, despite the fact that non-revenue sports, especially at lower division universities, often lose money. Concordia, for example, cited financial concerns in announcing cutbacks after the 2024-2025 school year.

Athletic Director Max Ballinger did not release the department’s budget, given it's a private institution, but said Cleary’s athletics are well funded for a school of its size and the budget has increased for the last five years. As proof, Ballinger said, nearly all Cleary coaches are full-time employees.

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Local corporate and individual sponsorships and other fundraising efforts can help offset costs, making it possible for Cleary to afford team trips, new equipment and facility upgrades.

“That (financial) support helps us to go above and beyond our operating costs in some areas,” Ballinger said.

Recruiting is an important part of the department’s growth, said Cleary President Alan Grimmer. His philosophy is to hire great coaches who mobilize recruiting networks. Ballinger said much of the recruiting activity these days occurs online, including on social media. Cleary doesn't have a budget to scout players all over the world, so coaches rely on their networks and contacts.

This year, Cleary will add men’s and women’s basketball programs, and Grimmer expects to investigate the feasibility of adding a women’s volleyball program in the near future.

“I think all of our students get a good grounding so our (student athletes) learn how to collaborate. Deal with conflict, work on a team, ethics,” Grimmer said.

Cleary teams participate in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, comprised mostly of private institutions in Michigan and Indiana. Other schools in the conference traditionally included Concordia University, Lawrence Tech, Siena Heights, and the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

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According to Ballinger, athletes at Cleary qualify for scholarships based on both their athletic and academic achievements. They could receive scholarships ranging from $1,000 a semester to full tuition, based on the sport, their individual profile and recent success.

“All small schools are competing for the same pool of athletes,” Ballinger said. “When we get recruits on campus, they’re talking not just to their coaches but me, the provost, our president and many of our (leaders).”

There are branding benefits to Cleary’s athletic programs, Grimmer said. It helps to raise awareness of the university locally and regionally. Some high school and travel sports teams will use Cleary’s athletic facilities for games and practices.

While the value of this branding is hard to quantify, it's helped hockey, golf and even e-sports become popular with students and often draws crowds from the greater Livingston County community.

“Small schools like ours need to find a disruptive path for all students, and that includes our student athletes,” Grimmer said.

— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com .

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: As Concordia cuts athletics, Cleary adds new programs