MOBILE, Ala. – The only person to serve as defensive coordinator at the University of South Alabama is departing this offseason after Bill Clark was named head coach at Jacksonville State Tuesday morning.
Clark — who joined the Jaguar staff after leading Prattville (Ala.) High School to back-to-back state 6A championships in 2006 and ’07 — helped the Jaguar defense rank second in the Sun Belt Conference at the end of the regular season allowing 382.9 yards per game.
“I’m very happy for Bill and his family,” Jag head coach Joey Jones told AL.com. “I appreciate what he’s done to help build this program at South Alabama. You’re always happy for someone in this profession to move up and get a job they want, so I’m very happy for Bill and his family. We’re great friends and will continue to be. I appreciate everything he’s done.”
“To get to come here and be the start of building a program and to see it done the right way, that’s a plus,” Clark added. “We were so supported here. Joey and I were friends before we started this and that will remain the same. To get to be with a friend to do this was special.”
Four members of Clark’s unit earned all-conference recognition earlier this month, with Jake Johnson named first-team, Alex Page chosen second-team, and both B.J. Scott and Enrique Williams garnering honorable mention kudos. USA also leads the league allowing opponents to score on 74.1 percent of their red zone possessions, is second allowing the opposition to convert on 36.2 percent of its third down opportunities, and third in pass defense entering the postseason.
In 2011, Clark led a group that ranked 10th at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision level in pass defense and 16th in total defense. USA allowed just 41 points in going 7-0 in the program’s first season of competition, and surrendered only 13 points and 255 yards per contest the next fall en route to a 10-0 finish.
Clark posted a 107-11 (90.7%) mark leading PHS, and he was part of the coaching staff at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game on three occasions including serving as head coach following the 2007 campaign. He is a 1990 graduate of Jacksonville State with a degree in physical education.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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