Veteran coach J.J. Clark joined Scotty Walden’s staff to coach linebackers in March 2022 after spending three seasons as a defensive coordinator at the NAIA Level. Clark was promoted to defensive coordinator and safeties coach in January 2023.
In his first season at Austin Peay, Clark helped sophomore linebacker Antoine Williams become the fifth player in program history to be a finalist for the Stats FCS Buck Buchanan Award, which is given annually to the best defensive player in the FCS.
Clark spent three seasons at Indiana Wesleyan where he was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in addition to serving as the strength and conditioning coach. In his final season at Indiana Wesleyan, Clark was named the 2021 Mid-States Football Association Assistant Coach of the Year.
Before his time at Indiana Wesleyan, Clark spent four years in various defensive coaching roles at his alma mater Wheaton College. During the 2013-14 seasons, Clark was a graduate assistant coach at Akron while completing his master’s in sports science and administration. Clark’s coaching career began at Humboldt State, where he coached running backs in 2012.
Before and during his collegiate career, Clark worked as a football operation assistant at the Seattle Seahawks’ training camp from 2007-10.
Clark received his bachelor’s degree in history from Wheaton College in 2012 and earned his master’s in sports science and administration in 2014.
Clark and his wife Samantha have two sons, Shepard and Seeker.
CLARK’S CAREER SUMMARY
Austin Peay (2022-23)
2023: Elevated to defensive coordinator and safeties coach in January.
2022: Named the Governors linebackers coach and co-special teams coordinator prior to the beginning of spring practice. In his first year at Austin Peay, he led one of the ASUN Conference's best linebacker tandems in Antoine Williams and Josh Rudolph. Williams earned All-ASUN honors, Third Team All-America honors, and was a finalist for the Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award after ranking second in the ASUN in tackles (91) and third in tackles for loss (12.5) – he was the only player in the league that ranked in the top three in both categories. Flanking Williams, Rudolph ranked sixth in the conference with 73 tackles and was tied for eighth in the league with 7.5 tackles for loss. Clark helped the Governors put the ASUN Conference's best defense on the field after leading the league in total defense (317.2 ypg), scoring defense (22.2 ppg), and third-down conversion defense (.308) – those marks ranked 12th, 32nd, and third, respectively, in the FCS. In Clark’s first season in Clarksville, the Govs defense also posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1964 after blanking Presbyterian and Mississippi Valley State.
INDIANA WESLEYAN (2019-21)
2021: Led a defense that allowed just 11.9 points per game – the second-fewest at the NAIA level – while intercepting 11 passes and forcing 19 fumbles – 11 of which were recovered by the Wildcats. Coached defensive back Justin Johnson, who was named an NAIA First Team All-American after racking up 52 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles, and a pair of interceptions.
2020: Clark’s defense allowed just 18.8 points per game in the COVID-shortened season.
2019: In his first season as defensive coordinator, the Wildcats allowed just 21.2 points per game. Indiana Wesleyan intercepted nine passes and forced a dozen fumbles, recovering eight of them.
WHEATON COLLEGE (2015-18)
2018: Called a defense that allowed just 9.0 points per game – the third-best mark at the NCAA Division III level. The Thunder also ranked fourth in total defense (218.2) and ninth in rushing defense (66.2) at the DIII level, while posting the third-best third-down conversion percentage by a defense (0.213) and the second-best fourth-down conversion percentage by a defense (0.125). Clark’s opportunistic defense scored five touchdowns, which were the ninth-most in DIII.
2017: In his first season as defensive coordinator, Wheaton held opponents to just 12.8 points per game, which ranked 10th in DIII. The Thunder ranked second in DIII football in sacks per game (4.2) and third in tackles for loss per game (9.4), while posting the fourth-best total defense (229.1 ypg). In Clark’s defense, defensive lineman Chase Greenlee was able to rack up the third-most sacks (15.5) and sixth-most tackles for loss (21) in DIII.
2016: Elevated to the Thunder’s co-defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, and strength and conditioning coordinator. Clark helped lead a defense that ranked 14th in the NCAA in total defense (169.5 yards per game), 18th in scoring defense (15.7 points per game), and second in rushing yards per game (66.3).
2015: In his first season coaching at his alma mater, Clark was the defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach, leading a unit that ranked seventh at the Division III level with 22 interceptions and was tied for second with five pick-sixes.
AKRON (2013-14)
2013-14: As a graduate assistant, coached the Zips’ defensive backs. In 2013, Akron ranked 38th in the FBS in interceptions (13) and 44th in team passing efficiency defense (121.7).
HUMBOLDT STATE (2012)
2012: Began his coaching career as a running backs coach. The Lumberjacks ran for 195.6 yards per game, which ranked 32nd at the NCAA Division II level, and 22 touchdowns during Clark’s lone season leading the backfield.
COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER (2008-12)
Clark was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at tight end and fullback at Wheaton College, 2008-12. He was named to the 2011 NCAA Division III Capital One Academic All-America Second Team during his senior season.
