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Clark Lea

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Clark Lea
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamVanderbilt
ConferenceSEC
Record15–30
Biographical details
Born (1981-11-11) November 11, 1981 (age 42)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Playing career
2002–2004Vanderbilt
Position(s)Fullback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2006UCLA (GA)
2007South Dakota State (LB)
2008South Dakota State (RC/LB)
2009UCLA (GA)
2010–2011UCLA (LB)
2012Bowling Green (LB)
2013–2015Syracuse (LB)
2016Wake Forest (LB)
2017Notre Dame (LB)
2018–2020Notre Dame (DC)
2021–presentVanderbilt
Head coaching record
Overall15–30

Clark Lea (born November 11, 1981) is an American football coach who has been the head football coach at Vanderbilt since 2021. He previously served as the defensive coordinator at the University of Notre Dame from 2018 to 2020. Lea began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2006 and went on to serve as an assistant coach at South Dakota State University, Bowling Green State University, Syracuse University, and Wake Forest University.

Playing career

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Lea started his college career playing baseball. He helped lead Birmingham Southern to the 2001 NAIA championship his freshman year. Lea then transferred to Belmont University and played one year of baseball (5G, 2-for-5, K).[1] Lea remained in Nashville and finished his college career at Vanderbilt, where he played fullback for the Commodores his final two years.[2]

Coaching career

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UCLA

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In 2006, Lea began his coaching career at UCLA as a graduate assistant under head coach Karl Dorrell.[3]

South Dakota State

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In 2007, Lea joined South Dakota State University as their linebackers coach under head coach John Stiegelmeier.[4][5] In 2008, Lea was given an additional role as recruiting coordinator.[6]

UCLA (second stint)

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In 2009, Lea returned to UCLA as a graduate assistant under head coach Rick Neuheisel. In 2010, he was promoted to linebackers coach.[7] Following Neuheisel's firing on November 28, 2011, Lea was not retained by UCLA for the 2012 season.[8]

Bowling Green

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In 2012, Lea was hired as the linebackers coach at Bowling Green State University under defensive coordinator Mike Elko and head coach Dave Clawson.[9][10]

Syracuse

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In 2013, Lea joined Syracuse University as their linebackers coach under head coach Scott Shafer.[11][12]

Wake Forest

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In 2016, Lea was hired as the linebackers coach at Wake Forest University, reuniting with defensive coordinator Mike Elko and head coach Dave Clawson.[13]

Notre Dame

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In 2017, Lea followed defensive coordinator Mike Elko to the University of Notre Dame to serve as their linebackers coach under head coach Brian Kelly.[14][15] In January 2018, Lea was promoted to defensive coordinator, replacing Mike Elko, who departed to serve in the same role at Texas A&M.[16]

Vanderbilt

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On December 14, 2020, Lea was named the 29th head football coach at Vanderbilt University, replacing Derek Mason.[17]

In the 2021 season, Lea led Vanderbilt to a 2–10 mark in his first season as head coach.[18] The 2022 season marked improvement for Lea and the Commodores with a 5–7 record.[19] The Commodores defeated SEC East rivals Kentucky and Florida to highlight the 2022 season.[20][21] In the 2023 offseason, Lea's contract was extended three years through the 2029 season.[22] Lea coached Vanderbilt to a 2–10 record in the 2023 season.[23] On October 5, 2024, Lea coached Vanderbilt to a 40-35 upset victory over #1 Alabama, the Commodores' first ever win vs an AP top 5 team, as well as their first win over Alabama since 1984.[24]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Vanderbilt Commodores (Southeastern Conference) (2021–present)
2021 Vanderbilt 2–10 0–8 7th (East)
2022 Vanderbilt 5–7 2–6 7th (East)
2023 Vanderbilt 2–10 0–8 7th (East)
2024 Vanderbilt 6–3 3–2
Vanderbilt: 15–30 5–24
Total: 15–30

References

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  1. ^ "2001-2002 Stats" (PDF). Belmont Bruins Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  2. ^ Organ, Mike (January 19, 2017). "Ex-Vanderbilt player named Notre Dame linebackers coach". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "Clark Lea: Things I Know". Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website. January 28, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  4. ^ "Clark Lea - Assistant Coach - Football Coaches". South Dakota State University Athletics. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  5. ^ Vorel, Mike (January 11, 2018). "How defensive coordinator Clark Lea's past prepared him for Notre Dame". Notre Dame Insider. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  6. ^ Cohen, Michael (June 18, 2013). "Getting to know Syracuse linebackers coach Clark Lea". syracuse.com. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  7. ^ Maya, Adam (February 24, 2010). "UCLA football: Bruins tab Lea as LB coach". Orange County Register. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "Mora Takes Coaching Job at U.C.L.A." The New York Times. Associated Press. December 11, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  9. ^ "Clark Lea - Football Coach". Bowling Green State University Athletics. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  10. ^ "Clark Lea formally named Linebackers Coach". NBC Sports. January 13, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  11. ^ "Clark Lea - Football Coach". Syracuse University Athletics. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  12. ^ Shay, Nolan (December 21, 2020). "How Clark Lea's tenure as SU's linebacker coach led him to take over at Vanderbilt". The Daily Orange. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  13. ^ "Wake Forest Adds Clark Lea as Linebacker Coach". Wake Forest University Athletics. February 17, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  14. ^ Ironside, Nick (January 9, 2017). "Lea to join ND staff". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  15. ^ Stankevitz, JJ (October 21, 2016). "Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick tells ESPN Brian Kelly will be back in 2017". NBC Sports Chicago. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  16. ^ Vowles, Joshua (January 9, 2018). "Notre Dame Hires Clark Lea As The New Defensive Coordinator... What Does It Mean?". OneFootDown.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  17. ^ "Vanderbilt Taps Lea to Lead Commodores". Vanderbilt University. December 14, 2020. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  18. ^ "2021 Vanderbilt Commodores Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  19. ^ "2022 Vanderbilt Commodores Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  20. ^ "Vanderbilt at Kentucky Box Score, November 12, 2022". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  21. ^ "Florida at Vanderbilt Box Score, November 19, 2022". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  22. ^ "'Vanderbilt is home': Coach Lea gets extension". ESPN.com. July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  23. ^ Mago, Anish (November 26, 2023). "Vanderbilt trounced by No. 21 Tennessee, 48-24, limps to 2-10 finish". The Vanderbilt Hustler. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  24. ^ Walker, Teresa M. (October 5, 2024). "Vanderbilt takes down No. 1 Alabama 40-35 in historic college football victory". AP News. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
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