Cleveland, OH-John Parry, a veteran athletics administrator of more than three decades, passed away recently at the age of 80. Parry served as Cleveland State Director of Athletics for six years from 2010 until his retirement in 2017.
 
Parry's career as an athletic director took place at three institutions over 33 years. He began his career as an AD at his alma mater, Brown University, where he oversaw multiple capital projects resulting in significant improvements to the athletic facilities over 11 years. He then moved on to Butler University where he spent 16 years leading the Bulldogs to widespread success, specifically in men's basketball, building the foundation for back-to-back NCAA title game appearances for the program.
 
Parry spent the final six years of his career at Cleveland State. He first served as interim athletics director in 2010 and was named to the permanent position in 2011. During his tenure at CSU, the university captured the McCafferty Trophy in 2012-13 which is awarded annually to the best athletics program in the Horizon League. In addition, he oversaw the development of the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion, which still serves as the home court for the men's and women's tennis programs as well as a multi-use tennis facility for the Greater Cleveland Community. Parry also successfully launched the men's lacrosse program in 2017. The program recently wrapped up the best season in its history and made its first-ever appearance in the postseason in 2024.
 
Parry served two separate terms on the NCAA Lacrosse Selection Committee in the 1980s and 90s. He led a group that modernized the NCAA Tournament and created Final Four weekend, similar to other NCAA Championships, which still exists today.
 
Cleveland State captured 16 Horizon League Championships during Parry's tenure as AD. In addition, the department registered a cumulative GPA of 3.19 and over 500 student-athletes were named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll over his six years in charge.
 
Parry is survived by his wife of 34 years Candi, and their two children, John C. Parry V (Bri) and Ashley Parry (Eric), his ex-wife Anne Parry Becker and their two children, Alyson Drew (Parker) and Jennifer McCarthy (Kevin), and six grandchildren: Harper, Samantha, and Keegan Drew, Owen and Lucas McCarthy, and Lorelei Cramer. He is also survived by his beloved sister Susan Finlay Marrinan (Mike) as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.