Hoover To Retire Following Football Season

October 14, 1998

CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson Assistant Athletic Director and Head Trainer Fred Hoover announced today that this is his 40th and final football season. Hoover, 68, has worked for the Clemson Athletic Department in his current capacity since 1959 when he was hired by Frank Howard.

Saturday’s Clemson vs. Florida State contest in Tallahassee will be his 441st consecutive football game for Clemson. He has never missed working the sidelines since the September 19, 1959 North Carolina game.

“This is a hard decision to make because this has been a special place to work for the last 40 years,” said Hoover. “The Clemson family has been very good to me and my family.”

Hoover has worked with 38 of Clemson’s 46 football All-Americans, 16 of Clemson’s 18 first-round NFL draft picks, 16 NFL All-Pro players, and 110 future NFL players. Clemson has been to 16 bowl games, won 11 ACC Championships and had 13 Top 25 seasons during his tenure.

Hoover has coordinated the training room needs for all 17 of Clemson’s Super Bowl Champion players, 903 Clemson football lettermen (entering this year) and worked under seven different head football coaches. He has supervised the training activities at an estimated 4500 Clemson football practices and run down the hill with the Clemson football team 205 times.

“Fred Hoover is simply an establishment,” said Head Coach Tommy West. “Every coach, player, administrator and Clemson fan respects the commitment and loyalty he has shown to this University for a long period of time. Fred has given to Clemson University and the athletic department as much as any person I know. It has been an honor to work with him and I appreciate all the help he has given me during my years as the head coach and as an assistant coach.”

“Fred Hoover is a man who is respected everywhere in this country,” said Athletic Director Bobby Robinson. “He has made a significant contribution to his field and has certainly been recognized nationally for his accomplishments by his peers. He has had a positive effect on thousands of Clemson student-athletes and the students who have worked in his training room.”

The native of Jacksonville, FL graduated from Florida State in 1953. He served as trainer at his alma mater for two stints, 1952-53 and 1957-58, before coming to Clemson in 1959.

Professionally, Hoover has held just about every administrative post with the National Athletic Trainers Association, including Chairman of the Board. In 1981 he was enshrined in the Citizens Savings-Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame for his work in his chosen field. In 1982 Hoover was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame.

In 1983, Hoover was the recipient of the Distinguised Service to Sports Medicine Award given by the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine. In 1987, he was awarded the South Carolina Hall of Fame Distinguished Service to Sports Award. He was made an honorary member of the Clemson Alumni Physicians Society in 1990. In 1994, the South Carolina Trainers Association created the Fred Hoover Award for excellence in Athletic Training.