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Clark Returns to App State as Co-Offensive Coordinator

Clark_Shawn (mug-Kent State)

Shawn Clark, a former All-American at Appalachian State and 15-year college football coaching veteran, has returned to his alma mater as the Mountaineers’ co-offensive coordinator (running game) and offensive line coach, head coach Scott Satterfield announced on Thursday.

“It’s great to welcome Coach Clark home,” Satterfield said. “His experience as a very successful Division I coach and his familiarity with our University, community and football program make him the perfect person for the position. He will fit right in with our student-athletes and staff. We won’t miss a beat with Coach Clark coordinating our running game and coaching our offensive linemen.”

Since wrapping up his All-America playing career at Appalachian in 1998, Clark has coached at Louisville (graduate assistant – 2001-02), Eastern Kentucky (offensive line – 2003-08), Purdue (offensive line – 2009-12) and, most recently, Kent State (2013-15).

After serving as run game coordinator/offensive line coach for his first two seasons at Kent State, Clark was promoted to assistant head coach/offensive line coach in 2015. With Clark at the helm of the offensive front, the Golden Flashes ranked among the nation’s top 35 in fewest sacks allowed all three seasons, including in 2015, when they ranked 12th nationally with just 13 sacks surrendered.

In four seasons at Purdue, Clark helped lead the Boilermakers to two bowl appearances and a win in the 2011 Little Caesars Bowl. He coached seven all-Big Ten performers and three National Football League draft picks at Purdue and oversaw a running game that produced 200 yards on the ground in five-straight games in 2010, a feat that occurred only twice before in school history. The Boilermakers also rushed for at least 100 yards 11 times in 2011, en route to their Little Caesars Bowl victory.

Prior to his four-year stint at Purdue, Clark coached three future NFL players, three NCAA Division I FCS all-Americans and nine all-Ohio Valley Conference honorees in six seasons at Eastern Kentucky. With Clark on staff, EKU won back-to-back OVC championships in 2007 and 2008, made two FCS playoff appearances and compiled a 43-26 overall record.

Clark began his coaching career with two seasons as a graduate assistant at Louisville. The Cardinals went 18-8 in his two seasons on staff, winning the 2001 Conference USA championship and appearing in the 2001 Liberty Bowl and 2002 GMAC Bowl.

Clark was a two-time all-American (1996 and ‘98) and three-time all-Southern Conference selection (1995, ‘96 and ‘98) as an offensive guard at Appalachian State from 1994-98. A four-year starter, Clark entered the lineup as a true freshman in 1994 and earned third-team Associated Press All-America honors as a junior in 1996. He missed the entire 1997 season due to injury but returned as a fifth-year senior in 1998 and was named a first-team Walter Camp all-American.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be coming home,” Clark said. “I want to thank Coach Satterfield and App Nation for this opportunity. My family and I are looking forward to this new adventure and to being a part of the tradition that is App State football.”

Clark graduated from Appalachian State in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He earned a master’s degree in education from Louisville in 2003.

Clark’s wife, Jonelle, was a standout softball student-athlete at Eastern Kentucky and was inducted into EKU’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. The Clarks have two children: a daughter, Giana, and a son, Braxton.

CLARK AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2001-02: Louisville (graduate assistant)
2003-08: Eastern Kentucky (OL)
2009-12: Purdue (OL)
2013-14: Kent State (run game coordinator/OL)
2015: Kent State (assistant head coach/OL)
2016-: Appalachian State (co-offensive coordinator (running game)/OL)

Playing Experience
1994-98: Appalachian State (OG)

Alma Mater: Appalachian State, 1998
Hometown: Charleston, W. Va.
Birthdate: Aug. 16, 1975 (40 years old)
Wife: Jonelle
Daughter: Giana
Son: Braxton
Twitter: @coach_sclark