Slideshow: 1971 WKU Hilltopper shares his memories

Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) - About 10,000 Western Kentucky alumni live in Kentuckiana, including a basketball star who helped lead the Hilltoppers to the final four 37 years ago.

But Clarence Glover’s aspirations didn’t end with basketball. 

For years, Western Kentucky University was mainly a teachers’ college and that tradition suits 1971 graduate Clarence Glover, who told his coach he would play basketball in order to go to college and not the other way around.

Glover has made his mark in both arenas.

As the horse cave native remembers, the 1971 Hilltoppers were the first team in final four history to have all five starters from the team’s home state.

In the opening round, seventh ranked western faced the previous year’s national runner-up, Jacksonville, led by future Kentucky Colonel and all-star Artis Gilmore.

Prior to Western’s Ty Rogers making his game-winning shot this month, Clarence Glover owned the most famous shot in Hilltopper history.

The score tied with just seconds remaining, Glover ducks as if tying his shoelace, and then emerges under the basket for the game winning bucket.

Glover says because his team featured Jim McDaniels, the top player in the country, it’s tough to compare to the 2008 Hilltoppers.

In the second round, Western trounced Adolph Rupp’s Kentucky Wildcats 107-83.

An overtime win over Ohio State sent the Toppers to the final four, where they lost to Villanova in double overtime.

A first round draft pick of the Boston Celtics, Glover’s goals reached beyond the hoop.

“When people ask me, “Were you a basketball player?” “I say no, but I was a scholar athlete and basketball was one of the sports I participated in,” says Glover

Indeed, education is Clarence Glover’s calling.

After decades in nearly every role in education, Glover is now an assistant principal in southwest Louisville.

Farnsley’s students and teachers are now watching Western with a big rooting interest.  And the entire nation is learning a lot more about WKU.

“I hope the success the team is having will shine a light on the tremendous academic aspirations that this school has,” says Glover

Glover was recruited by Kentucky and Louisville, but he values the lessons he learned at Western.

Glover is not only a Western grad, but he got his masters in Boston, with doctoral work at Indiana University.

He is quick to thank the teachers and coaches who fostered his love of learning. 

No doubt, thousands of students are themselves grateful to Mr. Glover—final four star, educator.