For Shawn Clark, life had always been about others. It didn’t matter what the occasion was, Clark made sure to turn up with his most endearing self. It was evident when North Carolina-based sports talk show host Josh Graham shared a beautiful anecdote of the texts he’d receive at odd hours. It was also evident when evangelical minister Franklin Graham called him “one of those great men”. But that was not all. Countless other tributes within the college football community also poured in after the UCF O-line coach’s sudden passing on September 21.
Current Cincinnati Bearcats and former Appalachian State HC Scott Satterfield was one of the first to react. It is during the 2016 season that Clark had joined the Mountaineers’ coaching staff after leaving Kent State. That season, the team had achieved a 10–3 record and won the Camellia Bowl after beating Toledo. No wonder the loss hit Satterfield hard. Taking to X, he wrote, “Incredibly sad news!! My friend, teammate, and colleague. Great husband, father, and just a good dude!! Love you, man!! Prayers for Jonelle and his family!”
Notably, Clark had been in stable condition last week before passing away “unexpectedly” with his wife, Jonelle, by his side. He had reportedly suffered a stroke on September 9, as confirmed by Graham on Instagram. Expectedly, this was too much to handle for Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz. Having worked alongside the OL coach at Appalachian State in 2019, he shared a picture of the latter lifting up the New Orleans Bowl trophy from that same year. “The world lost one of the finest coaches, husbands, and fathers that I’ve ever known,” the caption read. “His love and loyalty for those on his team were contagious. My prayers are with his family and those who knew Shawn. 2nd Corinthians 1:3-4.”
Clark’s coaching connection with App State is the stuff of legends. He started off as an OL/co-offensive coordinator coach in 2016, and then went on to become the HC in December 2019. But, despite an overall 40-24 record across five seasons and three bowl wins, it appears that beyond trophies, the coach will be remembered more for the type of coaching he imparted to players.
App State’s current HC Dowell Loggains reflected that very sentiment in a tweet. “A coach will impact more people in a year than the average person does in a lifetime. – Rev. Billy Graham,” he wrote. “Mission Accomplished, Coach 💛🖤”. App State’s Director of Athletics, Doug Gillin, shared, “A remarkable man. Always gave his all for App State. Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer.”
WVU outside linebackers coach Victor Cabral, who was hired by Clark himself in January 2023 to oversee App State’s defensive line, also shared his grief on social media, writing, “Devastated about coach clark passing away. A real friend! Loved his players and staff! Will always cherish our time working together. Awesome memories! Love you, coach.”
But perhaps the most profound of tributes came from Clark’s close friend Josh Graham. “This isn’t an exaggeration. Shawn Clark might be the best person I’ve ever met in coaching,” the tweet read. “Shawn cared so much about relationships. He’d text me anytime he’d see the Orioles on television. He’d send me a photo of his TV screen when he watched “Christmas Vacation” each year. The last time he texted me was two weeks ago when he randomly listening to the show. But there’s nobody he cared about more than his family.
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“He was so proud of his kids and never missed an opportunity to gush about his wife, Jonelle. In fact, the first time I met him, he told me about their first date when they watched “Pretty Woman.” I was fortunate to call him a friend and will miss him. May God bless his family.”
Even coaches who did not work alongside him joined in the remembrance—a testament to Clark’s character and the love the coaching community had for him. UNC’s former HC Mack Brown posted a picture of him and Clark on Instagram. “This is a great man who will be missed by so many,” it read. “Fantastic coach but a much better man. My life is better because he was my friend! RIP!”
Missouri’s AD of Football Athletic Performance, Derek Stork, extended his support to Clark’s family in this tough time. “Praying for the Clark family and all of App who grew under Coach’s guidance,” he wrote. “Rest easy, Coach. Thank you for everything.”
South Carolina’s TE coach Shawn Elliot, who was formerly associated with Appalachian State (1997-2009), also shared a heartfelt tribute to the man. Though they never got a chance to work together, Elliott posted a photo of the duo on the sidelines and wrote, “From opposite lines of scrimmage to opposite sidelines. Hard to believe you’re gone. Rest easy, my great friend and teammate @coach_sclark #Appfootballfamily”
Furthermore, even coaches from other disciplines were affected by his passing. The university’s men’s basketball program’s HC Dustin Kerns wrote a poignant post on X: “Sad day. Shawn Clark was a wonderful husband, father, man, and friend. A genuine person who truly cared for others. He defined what it means to be a Mountaineer by his love for the fibers of what App State has been built on and taught him.”
HC of Georgia Southern, Clay Helton, also shared, “Very sad to hear the news of Shawn’s passing—a great man, football coach, and competitor. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family as well as the App State and UCF football programs. Coach, you will be dearly missed.” Clark’s former players also made sure they honored their mentor.
Players pay tribute to Shawn Clark
Before Shawn Clark was a coach, he was a player at App State. During his collegiate career, he earned two All-American honors and three All-Conference selections, contributing to the Mountaineers’ impressive 45–16 record over that period. Clark’s leadership on the field was instrumental in the team’s success, and he was known for his dedication and work ethic. That same ethic translated to him being a solid support in his later years.
Tennessee Volunteers star QB Joey Aguilar, who was once a kid making rookie mistakes before Clark took him under his wing, wrote, “Can’t thank you enough, coach! Forever thankful for the opportunity and love you have given me #61 💛🖤.”
App State tight end David Larkins also expressed his sadness and thanked him for teaching him every aspect of the game. “Forever grateful! Rest in peace, Coach. 🙏🏻🕊️💛 ”
App State’s WR Kaedin Robinson, on the other hand, posted a picture of him hugging Clark after a game and wrote, “I love you forever, coach. 💛🖤🕊️”
Andrew Parker Jr., who played the last two years of his college career under Clark remembered him as a true leader. “Coach Clark was the Rocky Balboa of coaches, never threw in the towel, and always responded to adversity with his chin up and chest out. He’ll be remembered as a true champion, a leader of men, and what it means to be a Mountaineer.”
The players who only just started to get to know Clark were also left devastated. UCF ‘s Owen Spell shared, “He believed in me, he pushed me, he molded me, and he helped me turn dreams into reality. Until I see you again, boss. ✝️”
Even the ones who never played under him could feel his absence. “This one cuts deep,” retired Miami Dolphins linebacker Zac Thomas wrote on X. “A remarkable family man and tremendous coach. My deepest condolences to Jonelle and the kids. I am praying for you and all of the Clark family. You will be missed. RIP Coach Clark.”