Former South Alabama defensive coordinator Bill Clark has reportedly signed a contract to become the next head football coach at UAB, one year after leaving the Jaguars to lead Jacksonville State.
UAB had not officially announced the hire as of Wednesday morning, but the school scheduled a 3 p.m. news conference Wednesday in the Green and Gold Room at Bartow Arena, open to the public.
Departure From Jacksonville State
Clark formally informed Jacksonville State of his decision Tuesday. He met with the Gamecocks’ players at 6 p.m. to tell them he was leaving, and the school then announced his resignation.
Clark replaces Garrick McGee, who resigned after two seasons at UAB to become offensive coordinator at Louisville under Bobby Petrino. McGee previously held the same position under Petrino at Arkansas before taking the UAB job.
Record-Setting Season at JSU
Clark, 45, went 11-4 in his only season at Jacksonville State and led the Gamecocks to the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The win total set an Ohio Valley Conference record and tied the school mark for victories by a first-year coach.
Jacksonville State set 49 school records, 13 OVC records and three NCAA records during the season. Playoff victories over Samford and McNeese State were the program’s first postseason wins at the Division I level.
Four Seasons at South Alabama
Clark spent four seasons as South Alabama’s defensive coordinator before departing after the 2012 season. In 2012, the Jaguars’ first year in the Sun Belt Conference and first season in the Football Bowl Subdivision, South Alabama ranked second in the league in total defense.
South Alabama and UAB recently announced a home-and-home football series between the in-state programs. The first game is scheduled for 2015 in Birmingham, with the return game to be played in Mobile.
Grass Promoted at Jacksonville State
Jacksonville State quickly named offensive coordinator John Grass as Clark’s successor. Grass served as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2013, when the Gamecocks’ offense set numerous school, conference and national records.
Grass, a 1990 Jacksonville State graduate, joined Clark’s staff after 17 years as a high school head coach, compiling a 122-61 record. He is scheduled to be formally introduced Thursday.
