Vanderbilt Extends Football Coach Clark Lea

/in , /by

Vanderbilt football head coach Clark Lea. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Entering his third season at the helm of his alma mater, Vanderbilt football coach Clark Lea has signed a contract extension to remain in his native Nashville. Athletics director Candice Storey Lee announced the extension on Monday.

Lea was hired as the 29th Vanderbilt football head coach in December of 2020 and quickly embarked on rebuilding the culture of his alma mater while setting forth a clear vision to become the best college football program in the country.

His 2021 debut team saw the Commodores win for the first time in 11 contests in just his second game as head coach, a victory which also snapped a 10-game road losing streak. That fall, Vanderbilt also won its first home game in nearly two years.

“I’m thrilled with our football program’s development on and off of the field under Clark Lea’s leadership,” Lee says. “He is relentless in his commitment to build a foundation that yields sustainable success. He approaches each day with the pride of an alumnus who personally understands the opportunity that lies before us, and the determination of a coach and leader who has the vision to fulfill it. Coach Lea shares our desire to be great at everything we do. I’m excited to see what comes next for this program and gratified Coach Lea will continue leading the way.”

The program continued to grow in 2022, as Vanderbilt more than doubled its win total while earning its first SEC victory since 2019, first Power 5 win since 2018, first SEC road win since 2018, first win over Florida since 2013 and first home victory over the Gators since 1988. The five wins in 2022 were the second-most by a second-year Vandy head coach dating back to 1975.

The progress shown from year one to year two was evident in more than the win total. The Commodores led the SEC and ranked fourth in the nation with four defensive touchdowns in 2022 after not registering a single defensive score the previous fall. While forcing turnovers on defense, Vandy protected the ball on offense. The Dores’ six interceptions were second-fewest in the SEC and 12th in at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level. This came after the Commodores threw 14 interceptions in 2021.

“Vanderbilt is home, it is such an honor for me to lead our football program,” Lea says. “The only way that we accomplish the mission we have set forth for Vanderbilt Football is with the vision and support from Chancellor (Daniel) Diermeier and Candice Lee. To have them acknowledge the progress we’ve made to this point, and to commit to seeing us push further on our journey means everything to me. Like everyone who is a part of our team, I will work to earn it every day, and recognize the great responsibility I have with the incredible opportunity and support I’ve been given. I also want to thank the members of our program, both student-athletes and staff. Their hard work and sacrifice is what allows for progress in our quest to build a program that makes all of Vanderbilt and Nashville proud.”

Lea’s program has also experienced success in the classroom. The 2022 team produced four College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections, the most by a Commodore team in one season. Vanderbilt also captured its fifth Academic Achievement Award from the American Football Coaches Association and tied for the SEC lead in NCAA Graduation Success Rate.

The most recent full semester (Spring 2023) saw the team post a 3.2 grade-point average, with six players earning a perfect 4.0 GPA, 22 on the Dean’s List and 71 with at least a 3.0 GPA. In 2022, 44 players made the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, while four players were named to the Hampshire Honor Society by the National Football Foundation.

Prior to his time at Vanderbilt, Lea was a successful assistant coach across college football. As defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, he helped the Fighting Irish to a pair of undefeated regular seasons and College Football Playoff berths in 2018 and 2020. He was a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, presented to the nation’s top assistant coach, in 2020.

Lea also had stints as an assistant coach at Wake Forest, Syracuse, Bowling Green, UCLA and South Dakota State.

The Nashville native attended Montgomery Bell Academy and played baseball at Birmingham-Southern and Belmont before spending three seasons on the football team at Vanderbilt. He earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science during his time at Vanderbilt.

Steven Boero
Latest posts by Steven Boero (see all)