Former Prattville High School head coach Bill Clark — the third coach added to the South Alabama staff on March 3, 2008 — is in his second season and third year as the Jaguars’ assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.
In their first season on the field under Clark’s direction, the Jags surrendered just 41 total points and 234 yards per game to finish the year 7-0. That included allowing no points in the opening quarter of any contest and 12 in the first half as USA never trailed during its inaugural season.
Clark’s unit would give up 225 total yards or fewer in five straight games in the middle of the year, while in the season finale against Huntingdon (Ala.) College the Jags allowed a total of 236 yards to a unit that entered the contest leading the NCAA Division III level in the category in recording the program’s second shutout of the season.
It was a balanced group that contributed to the unit’s success, as nine individuals recorded at least 20 total stops and 17 ended the season with 10 or more tackles. USA sacked the opposing quarterback on 25 occasions in seven games and forced 23 turnovers after intercepting 14 passes and recovering nine fumbles.
Clark came to South Alabama after nine years as head coach of the two-time Alabama Class 6A champion Lions. His last two teams won 30 straight games, while the 2007 squad was ranked No. 2 in the nation in the USA Today’s national high school poll. Following his final season at PHS, he was named the Alabama High School Athletic Association Coach of the Year and was also selected Schutt Southeast Regional Coach of the Year.
He first led the Lions to the state 6A playoffs in 2000, his second season guiding the program, where they lost by two points in the opening round. Clark earned his first postseason victory a year later, helping PHS advance to the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual state champions, which is where the Lions’ season would end each of the next two falls.
Prattville made its first state championship game appearance under Clark in 2004, with the team allowing three touchdowns in four postseason contests leading up to the final including recording a pair of shutouts. The Lions advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2005 playoffs before dropping a two-point decision as well.
Clark posted a 107-11 (90.7%) overall record during his tenure, suffering his last regular-season loss during the second week of the 2002 season.
Clark served on the staff of the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic three times, including as head coach in the summer of 2007. He also served as head coach in the 2004 North-South All-Star Game.
Following graduation from Jacksonville State in 1990 with a degree in physical education, Clark began his coaching career as an assistant at Piedmont High School. There, he helped guide the Bulldogs to the state 3A playoffs in both of his seasons at the school, including reaching the quarterfinals his first fall. He later coached at Tuscaloosa County High School, Coffee County (Ga.) High School and Dothan High School — the the last stop before taking over at Prattville, he led DHS to back-to-back appearances in the state 6A playoffs, which included picking up a first-round victory in 1998.
Clark and his wife, Jennifer, have two children, Katie (15) and Jacob (13).
The Clark File
Born: June 28, 1968, in Anniston, Ala.
Education:
Jacksonville State ’90, bachelor’s degree in physical education
Coaching Experience:
Piedmont (Ala.) High - assistant coach, 1990-91
Tuscaloosa County (Ala.) High - assistant coach, 1992-94
Coffee County (Ga.) High - assistant coach, 1995-96
Dothan (Ala.) High - assistant coach, 1997-98
Prattville (Ala.) High - head coach, 1999-07
South Alabama - assistant coach, 2008-
Family: Wife, Jennifer; One daughter, Katie (14) and one son, Jacob (11)
