Shawn Clark

Last updated

Shawn Clark
Current position
TitleOffensive line coach
Team UCF
Conference Big 12
Biographical details
Born (1975-08-16) August 16, 1975 (age 49)
Charleston, West Virginia, U.S. [1]
Alma mater Appalachian State University
Playing career
1994–1998 Appalachian State
Position(s) Offensive lineman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2001–2002 Louisville (GA)
2003–2008 Eastern Kentucky (OL)
2009–2012 Purdue (OL)
2013–2015 Kent State (OL)
2016–2018 Appalachian State (co-OC/OL)
2019Appalachian State (AHC/OL)
2020–2024Appalachian State
2025–present UCF (OL)
Head coaching record
Overall40–24
Bowls3–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Sun Belt East Division (2021)

Shawn Clark (born August 16, 1975) is an American college football coach currently serving as the offensive line coach at the University of Central Florida. Previously, he served as the head football coach at Appalachian State University from 2019 to 2024.

Contents

Playing career

An offensive lineman in college, Clark was a two-time All-American (1996 and 1998) and three-time all-conference selection (1995, 1996, 1998) for teams that went a combined 45–16 during his first five years in Boone. In fact, as a player during the 12–0 start in 1995 and a coach for the 2019 team that has set a single-season record for wins by an FBS program in the state of North Carolina, Clark has been part of the two App State teams to post 11 regular-season victories.

Clark graduated from App State with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 1998 and earned a master's degree in education from Louisville in 2003.

Coaching career

Shawn Clark has developed over a dozen NFL offensive lineman in his career (including six O-line draft picks): Larry Turner, Derek Hardman, Dennis Kelly, Nick Mondek, Jordan Roos, Rick Schmeig, Kevin Pamphile, Colby Gossett, Cooper Hodges, Josh Kline, Armani Taylor-Prioleau, Ryan Neuzil, and Beau Nunn.

Appalachian State

Clark joined the Appalachian staff as offensive line coach in 2016 under head coach Scott Satterfield, then becoming an assistant head coach in 2019.

In 2017, they lead the Sun Belt in both rushing yards and fewest sacks, allowing only eight sacks (ranked second nationally) and averaging 223.6 rushing yards per game, ranking 22nd nationally. Appalachian State became the first Sun Belt Conference program to have three offensive linemen named to the all-conference first team (Colby Gossett, Beau Nunn, Victor Johnson). The 2018 team was 14th nationally in rushing yards per game (240.3) and 20th nationally with only 18 sacks allowed. Quarterback Justice Hansen was awarded the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year. The following season Quarterback Zac Thomas was named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year.

Upon the departure of Eliah Drinkwitz for Missouri, Clark became the 22nd head coach in program history on December 13, 2019. Clark led the Mountaineers in their bowl game that year to a 31–17 victory over UAB Blazers in the New Orleans Bowl. Running back Darrynton Evans was also named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, with Appalachian State receiving the title for the third straight year.

Clark's first full season as head coach of the Mountaineers was met with complications from the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many changes to schedules and football operations around the country. The team persevered and Clark finished 9–3 and lead the team in the inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl and defeated the North Texas Mean Green with a dominating 56–28 performance. [2]

In the 2021 season, Linebacker D'Marco Jackson was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and Quarterback Chase Brice was named Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year

In 2023, Quarterback Joey Aguilar would also receive the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year Award.

Clark was fired following a 5–6 season in 2024. [3]

Head coaching record

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs Coaches#AP°
Appalachian State Mountaineers (Sun Belt Conference)(2019–2024)
2019 Appalachian State 1–00–0W New Orleans 1819
2020 Appalachian State 9–36–22nd (East)W Myrtle Beach
2021 Appalachian State 10–47–11st (East)L Boca Raton
2022 Appalachian State 6–63–5T–4th (East)
2023 Appalachian State 9–56–22nd (East) [a] W Cure
2024 Appalachian State 5–63–5T–5th (East)
Appalachian State:40–2425–15
Total:40–24
      National championship        Conference title        Conference division title or championship game berth
  1. Appalachian State represented the East Division in the Sun Belt Championship Game. James Madison finished first place in the East Division, but was ineligible to participate in the Championship Game due to FBS transition rules.

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References

  1. Brocato, Joe (April 3, 2020). "GW grad Shawn Clark settles into first head coaching opportunity at Appalachian State". WV MetroNews. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  2. Iacobelli, Pete (December 22, 2020). "Peoples sets bowl rushing mark, App State tops North Texas". AP News. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  3. Thamel, Pete (December 2, 2024). "Appalachian State fires coach Shawn Clark after five seasons". ESPN . Retrieved December 10, 2024.