General 12/9/2025 12:00:00 AM

Hall of Fame Inductee: Patricia L. Clayton

On Oct. 11, Penn State Abington (formerly Penn State Ogontz) announced the inaugural class of its new Athletics Hall of Fame in conjunction with the 75^th anniversary of the university honoring 10 legendary inductees. The announcement was made at halftime of the men's soccer game at Memorial Field with Abington Chancellor Dr. Gary Liguori and Director of Athletics, Intramurals & Recreation Erin Foley. Click here for official announcement.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Philmont Country Club. Registration and cocktail hour begins at 2 p.m. with the ceremony beginning at 3 p.m. The event is open to the public. Ticket sales will end on Jan. 1, 2026. To purchase tickets, click here.

We'll be featuring each inductee leading up to the induction ceremony in January. Today, we highlight the career of Patricia L. Clayton who first stepped foot on the campus of Penn State Ogontz in 1970 as a student-athlete and member of the women's basketball team.

Our next Hall of Fame feature highlights the coaching career of Patricia L. Clayton who is the winningest coach in both women's basketball and women's volleyball. Clayton arrived at then Penn State Ogontz in 1970 as a student-athlete competing on the women's basketball team. After two seasons at Ogontz, Clayton went up to University Park and played on the Nittany Lions' women's basketball team as well as the softball team from 1972-1974. To this day, Clayton still holds the single game record for most rebounds in a game with 25 at University Park.

"For me, being inducted into the Penn State Abington/Ogontz Hall of Fame is a culmination of so many important moments in my life as a student at Penn State Ogontz and Main Campus until the end of my professional career in 2017," said Clayton. "I would not have exchanged my academic career or my participation in sports at either campus as each experience contributed to my total being. The adage WE ARE… PENN STATE is what makes me so proud to be a part of the Hall of Fame. Penn State has been my second family for 42 years since the early 1970's. Whether a student or professor… it just doesn't get better than that!"

Clayton began her legendary coaching career in 1979 as she took the reign of both the women's volleyball (1979-1990) and basketball (1979-1987) programs. During that time, Clayton totaled 305 combined victories with 185 wins in volleyball and 120 wins in basketball. To this date, Clayton is the winningest coach in both sports.

Clayton's volleyball squad won nine championships under her guidance with PAIAW titles in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1984. The team also won the EPCC Championship in 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989. The program was a finalist in the 1984 PCAA Championship match.

Clayton's basketball teams were just as successful winning the PAIAW championship three years in a row (1984-1986) and claiming the 1985 CCAC title.

In addition to team success, Clayton received several individual accolades, and rightfully so. Clayton was named the CCAC Women's Basketball Coach of the Year and earned the same honor in women's volleyball in 1984 and 1987. Clayton also was the EPCC Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year five times earning the award in 1984 and then four straight years from 1986-1989.

In 1998, Clayton received the prestige Robert J. Scannell Roll-of-Honor award which is given annually to an administrator, faculty, staff member or coach who has served campus athletic, intramural and recreational programs with distinction. Clayton is one of five individuals from Abington to receive the honor since the awards inception in 1990. All five are part of the inaugural Hall of Fame class.

Clayton's legacy goes far and beyond the court of play. She also reached students in the classroom and as an administrator. Clayton was named the Director of Athletics in 1986 following the retirement of fellow Hall of Fame inductee, Dr. Wesley A. Olsen, Sr. She held that position until 1996. Clayton was also part of the Abington College Faculty Senate from 1990-2009 and was an Academic Advisor for the College of Business, College of Education and College of Kinesiology.

One of Clayton's most memorable moments at Abington/Ogontz was being the recipient of The Chief Ogontz Award in 1997 and 2009. Chief Ogontz is the highest award for faculty or staff to receive at Abington. It recognizes an individual who has gone beyond his or her job description and makes the Abington community stronger.

Clayton holds Penn State deep in her heart and left a lasting legacy in her four decades as a Nittany Lion. She still gets a sense of pride in her heart when hearing and singing the Penn State Alma Mater. We Are… Penn State!

Tickets for the inaugural Penn State Abington/Ogontz Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony are currently on sale. The Hall of Fame event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Philmont Country Club. The ceremony will celebrate the achievements of 10 individuals who laid the foundation of Penn State Abington/Ogontz athletics. Registration and cocktail hour begins at 2 p.m. with the ceremony beginning at 3 p.m. The event is open to the public. Ticket sales will end on Jan. 1, 2026. To purchase tickets, click here.

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