Former Appalachian State Head Coach Shawn Clark Passes at 50

Shawn Clark, who compiled a 40-24 record in five seasons as head football coach at Appalachian State from 2020 to 2024, died Sunday. He was 50.

His death was announced Monday by the University of Central Florida on the team’s website. Clark was entering his first season as UCF’s offensive line coach following his dismissal from Appalachian State last December.

“Shawn was so much more than a coach. He was a remarkable man, husband, and father who cared deeply about his players and staff,” UCF head coach Scott Frost said in a statement. “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. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jonelle, and children, Giana and Braxton. We are here to support them and will continue to keep them in our hearts and prayers.”

Clark was one of Frost’s first hires after being relieved of his duties in Boone, but his ties to Appalachian State ran much deeper.

He was born Aug. 16, 1975, in Charleston, West Virginia, and later moved down the Appalachian Mountains to attend Appalachian State, then a rising program at the NCAA Division 1-AA level.

Clark played offensive line for the Mountaineers from 1994 to 1998, earning two 1-AA All-American honors and three All-Southern Conference selections. He was part of the 1995 team that went 12-1, setting a program record for wins and capturing its first Southern Conference title since 1991. Despite the success, that team fell short in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1998, Clark served as a graduate assistant at Louisville for two seasons while completing a master’s degree in education.

He coached offensive lines at several schools over the next 13 years, including a three-year stint at Purdue from 2009 to 2012.

In 2016, head coach Scott Satterfield brought Clark back to Boone as offensive line coach as the program completed its transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Also holding the title of co-offensive coordinator, Clark helped lead the Mountaineers to a 43-10 record and four consecutive bowl wins.

Incredibly sad news!! My friend, teammate, and colleague. Great husband, father, and just a good dude!! Love ya man!! Prayers for Jonelle and his family! https://t.co/07j7NDl9y3

— Coach Satterfield (@CoachSattUC) September 22, 2025

Clark’s final season as an assistant was under head coach Eliah Drinkwitz, who left after one year for Missouri. Drinkwitz posted on social media Monday: “The world lost one of the finest coaches, husband and father that I’ve ever known. His love and loyalty for those on his team was contagious. My prayers are with his family and those who knew Shawn.”

Clark was named interim head coach on Dec. 19, 2019. In his debut, he led Appalachian State to a 31-17 victory over UAB in the New Orleans Bowl.

That performance, along with strong player support, led to Clark’s appointment as permanent head coach.

“[The players] started a Twitter hashtag campaign for him to be the head coach,” Franklin Press (N.C.) writer Thomas Sherrill said on the WPTF Afternoon News, hosted by Appalachian State alumnus Jeff Hamlin. “It was a very popular decision. When he was first made the interim coach, and then he was made the permanent coach before the New Orleans Bowl that year…As people have said countless times today, no one loved App State more than Shawn Clark.”

His first full season, in 2020, was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he led the Mountaineers to a 9-3 record and a win over North Texas in the inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl.

Clark won 20 games in his first two seasons. In 2022, Appalachian State suffered a 63-61 season-opening loss to North Carolina but bounded back with a 17-14 upset at then-No. 6 Texas A&M — the program’s biggest victory since its 2007 win at Michigan.

“The key was belief,” Clark said after the A&M win. “You have to believe in yourself and believe in this program. I told them [to] take the logo off the helmet, take the logo off the field and let’s go play football.”

“𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻’ 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹.” — @coach_sclark

🎥 Full highlights from the win over No. 6 Texas A&M#GoApp pic.twitter.com/famY2cgb7y

— App State Football (@AppState_FB) September 14, 2022

After a dramatic Hail Mary win over Troy just hours after ESPN’s College GameDay came to Boone, Appalachian State lost three of its final four games, finishing 6-6. The Mountaineers were ineligible for a bowl game after playing two FCS opponents, as only one counts towards eligibility.

Joey Aguilar, the quarterback for Clark for the previous two seasons, posted a tribute on Instagram saying: “Can’t thank you enough coach! Forever Love!”

In 2023, the Mountaineers lost the Sun Belt title game to Troy. The 2024 season was further disrupted when a home game against Liberty was canceled due to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. App State finished 5-6, and Clark was let go.

Appalachian State released a statement on social media: “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.”

ESPN’s Marty Smith paid tribute to Clark, posting: “I am so sad. Shawn Clark was a dear friend and brother. We shared a million laughs and many tears. He was the best kind of man: caring, hardworking, and infinitely loyal. He invited me to App coaches fellowship meetings around the campfire in Boone. He displayed a copy of Never Settle prominently in his office, alongside his family photographs. We were like-minded in myriad ways. Prayers to his family and all he touched.”

While no official plans have been announced, both Appalachian State and UCF are expected to honor Clark with pregame tributes. Appalachian State will travel to Boise State this week, a program it last face in the 1995 1-AA quarterfinals — with Clark anchoring the offensive line.

During his Monday press conference, current head coach Dowell Loggains spoke about Clark’s lasting impact on the Appalachian State community.

“It’s powerful to be a coach, and you understand the responsibility of it,” Loggains said. “No one did it better than Coach Clark with his relationships with these young guys. They care about him deeply because they knew what this place meant to him and how he treated them.”