Tom Clark - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach - Football Coaches

Tom Clark

Title:
Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach
Email:
taclark@liberty.edu

Tom Clark returns for his sixth year as a member of the Flames’ football coaching staff. Clark serves as the team’s defensive coordinator and successfully implemented the 3-4 defensive system for the first time in the history of the program after joining the staff in January 2006.

Clark’s direct position coaching responsibilities have changed for the second time in three years. After leading Liberty’s linebacking corps during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Clark will oversee the defensive backs during the 2011 campaign.

Liberty head football coach Danny Rocco made the defensive instructional switch during the offseason, due to Clark’s previous coaching experience with the position.

Liberty’s cornerbacks and safeties will be the most experienced defensive group for the Flames during the 2011 season and could be key to Liberty remaining a Top 20 defensive unit.

For the fourth time in five years, Liberty’s defense ranked among the nation’s Top 25 in scoring defense during 2010, as the Flames ranked No. 24 by allowing 20.18 points per game.

The Flames also finished the 2010 campaign ranked No. 17 in total defense (309.18 yards allowed per game) and No. 14 in first down defense (15.55 first downs allowed per game). Liberty ranked No. 20 in rushing defense (115.73 yards allowed per game), setting a new program standard by allowing just 1,273 yards gained by opponents on the ground.

The Flames’ defensive unit thrived under Clark’s guidance in 2006, setting eight team records, including fewest points allowed (172), most shutouts (3) and fewest total touchdowns (21) in 2006.

The following two seasons, Liberty continued to set new program standards under Clark’s tutelage. In 2007, Liberty etched new marks in the record book for fewest rushing yards allowed (1,413) and average yards per run (3.2). The Flames defense has bested the program record for average rushing yards per game allowed in both 2007 and 2008, leaving the new record at a 125.9 average.

Clark’s defensive efforts have drawn national attention during his five of seasons at Liberty. In 2006, the Flames ranked No. 12 in scoring defense (15.64 points per game), while his 2007 squad ranked No. 13 in turnovers gained (30) and No. 24 in rushing yards allowed.

During the Flames 10-2 2008 campaign, Clark’s defense once again cracked the Top 20, ranking No. 14 in scoring defense (18.67 points per game).

Since taking over the reigns as Liberty’s defensive coordinator, Clark has coached 19 all-conference selections, eight VaSID all-state honorees and two honorable-mention All-Americans. Additionally, Clark helped shape Virginia transfer Vince Redd during his senior year at Liberty, putting him into a position where he signed a free agent contract with the NFL’s New England Patriots after graduation in 2007.

Clark came to Liberty after serving his second stint as head football coach at Catholic in Washington, D.C., where he had been since 2004.

Prior to his most recent stay at Catholic, Clark served as the defensive coordinator at William & Mary for three seasons (2001-03), helping the Tribe to a share of the Atlantic 10 Conference championship in 2001.

Clark first joined the staff at Catholic in 1994 and served as head football coach before leaving to go to William & Mary. While at Catholic, Clark compiled an impressive 56-14-1 overall coaching record and boasts of one of the best seven-year runs in Division III history (.792 winning percentage).

Catholic made three-consecutive appearances in the Division III playoffs (1997, 1998 and 1999), and Clark quickly turned the program around as his 1994 squad tied the NCAA record for best turnaround.

In 1999, Catholic finished with a 9-2 overall record and claimed the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship, earning the title in its first year in the conference. Clark coached nine players who earned NCAA Division III All-American honors during his longest stay at Catholic.

Clark's other coaching stints included head coach and athletic director at Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md. (1988-94), graduate assistant coach for the secondary at Colorado (1987-88), assistant coach for the secondary at Catholic (1985-86) and assistant coach at St. John's College Prep in Washington, D.C. (1983-84).

Clark is a native of the Washington, D.C., area and received his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Maryland in 1986. Clark and his wife, Laurie, have two children: Kevin and Samantha.

The Clark File

Year at Liberty: Sixth

Coaching Experience:

2006 – Present (5 years) - Liberty (DC/LB)

2005-04 (2 years) – Catholic (HC)

2001-03 (3 years) – William & Mary (DC)

1994-2000 (7 years) – Catholic (HC)

1988-94 (7 years) – Bishop McNamara HS (HC, AD)

1987-88 (2 years) – Colorado (GA, DB)

1985-86 (2 years) – Catholic (DB)

1983-84 (2 years) – St. John’s Prep (AC)

Recruiting Area: Tidewater, Va. area, Washington D.C. area, Eastern Maryland