Ira Harlan "Sphinx" Van Cleave (July 30, 1888 – May 29, 1943) was an American football, basketball, baseball, and track and field coach, athletics administrator, and physical education instructor.

[1] Van Cleave resigned from his position at Hays Normal in the summer of 1915 and moved to California.

[4] He led the Pomona High baseball team to a Citrus Belt League title in 1926.

[5] In June 1926, the Pomona school board opted to retain Van Cleave at athletic coach, but offered him the position of physical education instructor.

[8] Van Cleave resigned as head athletic coach at La Verne in early 1930 and was succeeded by Lee Eisan.