Man, Man, Man, Line, Ball

Mike McCleary - A Southern Gentleman

Hannah Reynolds - Texas A&M University ‘23

Mike McCleary is not just a Texas A&M collegiate coach who has successfully won and coached many Intercollegiate National Championship titles. He is a friend, a father, a grandfather, a mentor and an Aggie. Mike McCleary did not grow up in a polo dominant and wealthy family. Mike grew up in Waco, Texas, mowing lawns for 50 cents. And at eleven, Mike purchased his first horse Ginger, a spit fire 14.5 hands bucking and kicking mare, for $146. Part Shetland, Ginger came to be a handy and quick mare who Mike competed on in several barrel racing competitions and won quite a bit of money. Blazing through the competition, Mike was unstoppable with Ginger until it came time for Mike to hang up his saddle and gear up to play football for Texas A&M University. However, his time apart from Ginger was to be short lived as his high school sweetheart, Diane, was gifted Ginger. Mike tumbled and roared ahead, competitive in football. So, how did a lawn mowing, barrel racing, football player come to learn the Sport of Kings? Gymkhana. Texas A&M held a Gymkhana (now called Rec Palooza), where all the sports teams set up booths and activities to try and gain members. Texas A&M had a beautiful polo field set up on the campus and that day the activity was polo puttputt and racing barrels. At the time, Mike McCleary’s best friend, Joe Ed, also rode horses and decided that the westerners were to take on the “goofy people in the flat saddles.” Diane brought Ginger for Mike and he blazed through polo putt-putt and the barrels. He rode with such ease that the Texas A&M Polo Coach called Mike up to ask if the team could use Ginger in their upcoming game against Houston Polo Club. Diane and Mike both agreed that Ginger was only going to be ridden by them, so Mike agreed to play for Texas A&M Polo and Diane agreed to give Ginger back for the price of marriage. Happily married and sitting at his desk with the infamous Bluebook, McCleary studied the game and roped his best friend Joe Ed in with him. They slowly learned to play polo bringing Ginger to practices until the day that they got invited to the Houston Polo Club to play in a tournament. The rookies took on 4-goaler, Jesus Rodriguez, and experienced what exactly a T-bone was and lost the game 8-0.

Ginger Determined to succeed and quite upset with the loss, Mike signed up for the seven-day polo clinic with Colonel Wilson. Throughout those seven days Mike took what he learned, perfected it, and then came back to Aggieland to improve the polo team at home with the techniques and lessons that he had aquired. David Bird, Joe Ed, and Mike maintained the polo club and the field on campus practicing several times a week chomping at the bit for polo, polo, polo. Mike was invited by Houston sponsor Will Ferris to play in the Friday and Sunday matches and Mike’s skill and knowledge of polo blossomed. The day finally came where TAMU and Houston would duel it out and Texas A&M, captained by Mike, won. McCleary went on to produce a competitive reputation for Texas A&M and won several National Championships competing against Tom Goodspeed and Danny Scheraga, who today are still influencers and coaches in the polo community.

ABOVE: Mike McCleary coached both the Texas A&M’s Men’s and Women’s teams to a National Title in 2019, a repeat of their feat in 2018. BELOW: Mike (left) and his TAMU teammates in 1972.

Not only did Mike McCleary give back to the sport as out of the polo world, whether it be some free riding, a job, a player, but he has tremendously or advice. Like many others, I will given back to the sport as a coach. always appreciate everything Mike Teaching several generations and and the McCleary family has done influencing many polo careers, for me to make me a better rider like Steve Krueger and Cacho and person.” -Chris Jordan Galindo’s, Mike has not only proven “Mike was a great coach and his vast knowledge of skill as a father figure for my time in College player and coach but continues to Station. I knew his phone number prove his commitment to the polo by heart and spoke with him every community by opening up his own day. He was a good coach who magnificent polo club, River Bend emphasized discipline and hard Polo. Located in Bryan, Texas work, but he was a better role where current and former Aggies model. Man, man, man, line, ball!” enjoy playing. – Steve Krueger Composing his teams with There is no coach like Mike poise and southern charm, Mike McCleary. From mowing lawns was one of the very first coaches for fifty cents and riding an unruly to successfully coach a women’s mare bought for $146 dollars, polo team to the national level. to being a judge, a father of He continuously proves his strong seventeen sons, and a tremendous suit of coaching women as his mentor and coach for Aggies and female players have made it to Mike, (right) with current SMU Coach Tom Goodspeed players everywhere. Mike McCleary the national finals in the past four (center) and Reed Graham (left) in 1974. embodies the spirit of a true southern seasons. Along with the success gentlemen and reflects the Aggie of women’s polo, Mike’s men’s team is a powerhouse, spirit. The Texas A&M Polo Team would like to thank him as he continues to craft each member not only into a for the hard work and dedication he has given them and competitive player but a distinguished individual on and the club overall and we look forward to the years ahead! off the field. Thanks, and Gig ‘Em! “Mike isn’t just a coach; he is like your father and friend. Always looking out for the best interest of his players and never hesitating to help. My favorite memory with Mike is that of Thanksgiving Holiday my freshman year, I could not go home due to exams, but Mike invited me over to have Thanksgiving with his family. All 17 sons and grand youngins where there and they welcomed me with January 29-31 open arms. I knew then that not only was I an Aggie, but I was one of his February 12-14 students and that Aggies always take care of their kind. I am proud to call Texas A&M my home and honored Februar March y 1 26-2 9-21 8 to be coached by Coach McCleary.” -Hannah Reynolds “When I met Coach Mike, I only knew four people in the polo world. As I moved 1,500 miles away from my friends and family, he opened his arms and home to me and helped to ease the transition and slowly USPA National I/I Alumni - Feldman Cup became the grandfather I did not have. I quickly learned that I was not coming to Legends 2021 the only person he has helped over the years. He has adopted many people. He has always been one to help young men and women in and