Shawn Clark, Former App State Head Coach, Dies At 50
Some news just hits you right in the gut. The college football world is reeling today after the news that UCF assistant coach and former Appalachian State head man, Shawn Clark, passed away Sunday at the age of 50. It is a tough day for anyone who loves the game, a somber reminder that some things are so much bigger than first downs and bowl games.
Clark, who had just started his first season as the offensive line coach for the UCF Knights, was hospitalized on September 9 after a medical emergency. Reports last week seemed cautiously optimistic. UCF Head Coach Scott Frost mentioned Clark was “in stable condition,” and you just hoped, you prayed, that was a sign he was on the mend. But in a cruel twist, UCF announced he passed away “unexpectedly” with his wife, Jonelle, by his side. It’s a heartbreak.
More Than Just a Coach
You hear it all the time when someone passes, but with Clark, it rings profoundly true: he was more than just a coach. He was a football lifer, a guy who lived and breathed the sport, but never lost sight of the people in it.
“He was a remarkable man, husband, and father who cared deeply about his players and staff,” Frost said in a statement that you can feel the weight behind. “The reaction of our players and coaches to the news this morning is a testament to Shawn’s character… He was loved.” And he truly was. Especially in Boone, North Carolina.
The Appalachian State Legacy Of Clark
Before heading to UCF, Clark was the guy at his alma mater, Appalachian State. It is the kind of story you see in a feel-good sports movie. A former All-American offensive lineman for the Mountaineers comes back home to eventually lead the program. From 2019 to 2024, he led the team, racking up a solid 40-24 record and going 3-1 in bowl games. He wasn’t just coaching; he was carrying on a legacy he helped build with his own sweat and blood.
App State’s statement said it all: “We are profoundly saddened by the passing of App State alumnus, football All-American and former head coach Shawn Clark.” It’s a loss that will be felt deeply in those mountains.
His coaching journey was a classic grind—starting as a grad assistant at Louisville, with stops at Eastern Kentucky, Purdue, and Kent State, always coaching up the big guys on the offensive line. He was one of them, and he knew how to get the best out of them.
Shawn Clark leaves behind his wife, Jonelle, and their two children, Giana and Braxton. In the end, it is not about the wins and losses. It is about the lives you touch. And by all accounts, Coach Clark’s impact was immeasurable. The whistle is silent now, but the echo of his influence will be heard for a long, long time.
