Shawn Clark, UCF Assistant Football Coach and Former Appalachian State Head Coach, Dies at 50
Shawn Clark, an assistant football coach at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and former head coach of Appalachian State, has died at the age of 50. Both UCF and Appalachian State announced Clark’s passing on Monday, following a medical emergency that hospitalized him nearly two weeks ago. Clark was hospitalized on September 9 and remained stable in the hospital until last week, though the school did not disclose his official condition at the time.
UCF head coach Scott Frost expressed deep sorrow, stating, “Shawn was so much more than a coach. He was a remarkable man, husband, and father who cared deeply about his players and staff. The reaction of our players and coaches to the news this morning is a testament to Shawn’s character and the impact he had on every life that he touched. He was loved.”
Clark joined the Knights’ program after spending five years as the head coach of the Appalachian State Mountaineers, his alma mater. He led the Mountaineers with a 40-24 overall record and 3-1 in bowl games, including victories at the New Orleans Bowl, Myrtle Beach Bowl, and Cure Bowl. The university expressed its profound sadness in a post on X, stating, “We are profoundly saddened by the passing of App State alumnus, football All-American, and former head coach Shawn Clark. We extend our deepest sympathy to Shawn’s family and everyone who knew and loved him.”
His coaching career began in 2001 as a graduate assistant for the Louisville Cardinals. He later served as an offensive line coach for the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, Purdue Boilermakers, and Kent State Golden Flashes. Clark was the offensive line coach for the Mountaineers in 2016 and later became the offensive coordinator before taking over as head coach in 2019. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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