MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Bill Clark has expressed interest in the head coaching vacancy at Jacksonville State, his alma mater.
Clark, an Anniston native, has not interviewed for the position. He has informed Jaguars head coach Joey Jones and Jacksonville State officials of his interest.
Clark On The Opening
Clark told AL.com on Monday night that he was contacted about the job on Friday, when Jacksonville State announced the dismissal of head coach Jack Crowe.
“I was called about the job on Friday when it first was announced that coach Crowe had been let go and I had an interest in looking at it,” Clark said. “Obviously I’m very happy here and I have a great job. I talked to Joey about after the game on Saturday and he knows I’m going to look into it and see what it entails.”
Jacksonville State’s Vacancy
Jacksonville State athletics director Warren Koegel dismissed Crowe with two years left on his contract. Crowe went 87-57 in 13 seasons as the Gamecocks’ head coach and ranks as the second-winningest coach in school history.
Crowe led Jacksonville State to Ohio Valley Conference championships in 2003, 2004 and 2011 and to three NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearances, though the Gamecocks did not win a playoff game under him.
Jacksonville State finished the 2012 season 6-5. The Gamecocks opened the year with a loss to Arkansas and closed it with a loss to Florida.
Clark’s Background
Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Jacksonville State in 1990. He began his coaching career as an assistant at nearby Piedmont High School and later worked as an assistant at Tuscaloosa County High School, Coffee County High School in Georgia and Dothan High School.
He then became head coach at Prattville High School, where he served from 1999 through 2007. Clark compiled a 107-11 record at Prattville, a winning percentage of 90.7, and won two Class 6A state championships. His final two Prattville teams won 30 consecutive games, and his 2007 team was ranked No. 2 nationally by USA Today. Prattville’s last regular-season loss under Clark came in 2002.
Clark was named Alabama High School Athletic Association Coach of the Year after his final season with the Lions.
He left Prattville to join Jones’ staff at South Alabama and was among the first hires Jones made when building the Jaguars’ new football program.
South Alabama’s 2012 Defense
Clark has led the South Alabama defense during the program’s first four seasons. This season, the Jaguars’ first in the Sun Belt Conference, the defense played through several season-ending injuries.
Cornerback Qudarius Ford injured his knee in preseason camp. Senior defensive lineman Anthony Taylor suffered a broken leg in the game at Mississippi State, and Randon Carnathan tore an anterior cruciate ligament in the game at Louisiana-Monroe.
