J.I. Clements served as coach, athletic business manager and athletic director at Georgia Southern College from 1948 until his death in 1984. Clements was also an assistant basketball coach from 1948-62.
Clements had a career record of 320-205 and led Georgia Southern to four NAIA District 25 championships. The 1962 squad that won the national title was the first ever for a Georgia Southern team. He also led GSC to second place finishes in 1960 and 1968, and a third place standing in 1964. He was named NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1963.
From 1962-64, Clements served as president of the NAIA Baseball Coaches Association and was a member of the U.S. Olympic Baseball Committee in 1964. He is a member of the U.S. Baseball Federation Hall of Fame.
As an administrator, Clements led Georgia Southern from NAIA to NCAA Div. II status in 1970 and to Division I a year later. Eagle baseball, golf and tennis all represented GSC at NCAA Div. I championship events during 1973-74 season. He was named 1974 Georgia Sports Administrator of the Year by the Georgia Athletic Hall of Fame.
The GSC baseball stadium was named in his honor in 1985.
