Dr. Ruth Nearing (2019) - Hall of Fame - St. Cloud State University Athletics

Dr. Ruth Nearing

Induction:
2019

One of the early leaders of women's intercollegiate athletics at St. Cloud State University, Dr. Ruth Nearing, PhD., started the women's swimming and diving program at the University in 1970. She served as a HPERSS professor (Developmental/Adapted Physical Education) at St. Cloud State University for four decades and served as the Huskies' swimming and diving coach from 1970-81, synchronized swimming advisor from 1970-80 and as the women's track and field coach from 1972-74. Under the direction of Nearing, the SCSU women's swimming and diving teams, SCSU won an MWIAA championship in 1972 and in 1980, Jane Baltes was the first woman to earn All-America status for the Huskies. The recipient of the Marie Berg Award in 2019 from the Minnesota Coalition of Women in Athletic Leadership, Nearing graduated from East Stroudsburg State College and later earned her master's degree in health and physical education from East Stroudsburg. She received her Ph.D. in physical education from Texas Women's University and worked as Elizabethtown College before joining the faculty at SCSU in 1970. A recognized national leader in the area of adapted aquatics, Nearing received her AAHPERD Aquatic Council credential in Adapted Aquatics in 1993 and was named to the AAHPERD Aquatic Council Faculty in Adapted Aquatics in 1995. An active volunteer with the American Red Cross throughout her life, Nearing has received numerous awards from that organization and in 1991, the American Red Cross, Central Minnesota Red Cross Chapter established the Ruth J. Nearing Award for Excellence in Aquatic Instruction, which recognizes individuals who excel in the teaching aquatics in the Central Minnesota chapter.