Zora Clevenger came to UT in 1911 and served as head football coach, head basketball coach, and athletic director. While at UT he posted a 26-15-2 record in football, including a conference championship. In 1914 he coached UT’s first undefeated season in football. His basketball team in 1915–16 also went undefeated. Prior to the 1916 season, Clevenger moved to Kansas State where he served until 1920 as head football coach, head basketball coach, and Kansas State’s first athletic director. There, his football teams had an overall record of 19-9-2. His basketball teams were 54-17 and won two Missouri Valley Conference championships. In 1921 Clevenger left coaching and moved to the University of Missouri where he served as athletic director until 1923. In 1923 he returned to Indiana University (where he had played football from 1900–1903) as athletic director and held the post for 23 years.
Clevenger helped found the annual East-West Shrine Game and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1968. During UT’s 1968 homecoming activities, the class of 1914 held a breakfast honoring the then-86-year-old Clevenger. The I-Men’s Association at Indiana University annually awards a Z. G. Clevenger award in his honor—the highest award given by the organization.