Draft:J.J. Clark
| Dallas Cowboys | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive assistant |
| Career information | |
| College: | Wheaton College |
| Career history | |
As a coach: | |
| |
J.J. Clark is an American football coach who is currently a defensive assistant for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as defensive coordinator at UTEP, Austin Peay, and Indiana Wesleyan, and held various defensive coaching roles at Wheaton College and Akron.[1]
Coaching career
[edit]Early coaching
[edit]Clark began his coaching career at Humboldt State in 2012 as the running backs coach. He then served as a graduate assistant at Akron from 2013 to 2014, working with the defensive backs while earning a master’s degree in sports science and administration.[2]
Wheaton College
[edit]From 2015 to 2018, Clark coached at his alma mater, Wheaton College. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2017. His 2018 defense ranked in the top five nationally in multiple statistical categories, including scoring defense (9.0 ppg) and total defense (218.2 ypg). LB Eric Stevenson earned unanimous First Team All-American honors under his leadership.[3]
Indiana Wesleyan
[edit]Clark served as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Indiana Wesleyan University from 2019 to 2021. In 2021, he was named Mid-States Football Association Assistant Coach of the Year after the defense ranked second nationally in scoring defense (11.9 ppg) and fourth in rushing defense (63.8 ypg).[4]
Austin Peay
[edit]In 2022, Clark joined Austin Peay as linebackers coach and co-special teams coordinator under head coach Scotty Walden. He was promoted to defensive coordinator and safeties coach in 2023. His defense led the UAC in total defense and scoring defense, and produced several All-UAC honorees including LB Tyler Long and DB Jevon Mclver Jr.[5]
UTEP
[edit]Clark followed Walden to UTEP in 2024 as defensive coordinator. The Miners finished 3-9 but showed improvement in the latter half of the season. UTEP head coach Walden praised Clark as "one of the best defensive minds in the nation."[6]
Dallas Cowboys
[edit]On February 10, 2025, Clark was hired by the Dallas Cowboys as a defensive assistant and linebackers coach under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Playing career
[edit]Clark played tight end and fullback at Wheaton College (Illinois), where he was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter. He was named to the 2011 NCAA Division III Capital One Academic All-America Second Team.[7]
Personal life
[edit]Clark earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Wheaton in 2012 and a master’s in sports science and administration from Akron in 2014. He and his wife, Samantha, have two sons, Shepard and Seeker.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Grant Grubbs (February 10, 2025). "Report: Dallas Cowboys hire J.J. Clark as defensive assistant coach". Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "JJ Clark named DC at UTEP". Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "JJ Clark - Wheaton College Profile". Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "Indiana Wesleyan Football Coaching Staff". Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "JJ Clark coaching bio – Austin Peay". Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "JJ Clark to UTEP". Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "JJ Clark - Player Bio". Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "JJ Clark Bio - Austin Peay". Retrieved May 24, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Dallas Cowboys coaching staff
- Austin Peay coaching profile
- Wheaton College bio
- Football Scoop news on Clark hiring