In 2007, Lea joined South Dakota State University as their linebackers coach under head coach John Stiegelmeier. He began his coaching. Unfortunately for Notre Dame, programs around the country have undoubtedly been taking note of the Irishs rising defensive coordinator. 19 nationally in fewest penalty yards per game, while the Dores also led the league in fourth-down conversion percentage. Two people with knowledge of the situation told The. Theyve gone undefeated in the regular season in both 2018 and this year. Senior Quantity Surveyor, Alan joined us in 2012 and has completed our bespoke masters course at Glasgow Caledonian University, graduating with an MSc in Construction. 0:18 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Clark Lea sees great potential at Vanderbilt, and the first-time head coach has been busy making changes trying to set his alma mater up for long-term success. 2019 Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Vanderbilt hired Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea as its next head coach on Monday, the school announced. 11 nationally while the scoring defense finished 13th. Georgia destroys TCU to repeat as national champs, Rapid Reaction: LSU dominates Purdue in short-handed Citrus Bowl wipeout, Rapid Reaction: Mississippi State swings its sword, wins ReliaQuest Bowl on last-second field goal, Rapid Reaction: Unreal! Connect to our dedicated customer care team in real-time. She valued his role in building and shaping the No. County manager appoints County Engineer Ken Lader to lead Public Works. https://t.co/lKuaCZGM6e, Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 15, 2020. The team is 10-0 this year and ranked 12th again at 17.1 points allowed per game. Clark Lea - Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website Sat, Oct 5 - 3:30 pm Football 52 Bowling Green 0 Sat, Sep 28 - 3:30 pm Football 35 Virginia 20 Sat, Sep 21 - 8:00 pm Georgia 23 Football 17 Sat, Sep 14 - 2:30 pm Football 66 New Mexico 14 Fri, Dec 30 - 3:30 pm South Carolina Football Sat, Nov 26 - 7:30 pm Southern Cal Football 10 Ole Miss, Vanderbilt ran 93 plays, most since 2010, while holding the ball for 38:57, its biggest advantage since 2018, and completing seven passes of 20 yards or more. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Notre Dame also claimed a 47-40 double-overtime victory against No. Contact Athlete Speakers today at 800-916-6008 to book Clark Lea for a virtual event, virtual meeting, virtual appearance, virtual keynote speaking engagement, webinar, video conference or Zoom meeting. "The SEC is the highest level, so what that means is your systems are stressed and . Notre Dame 2017 (Linebackers) Helped Notre Dame become the last team in the FBS to surrender more than 20 points as the Fighting Irish allowed only four plays of 40 yards or longer and just one play of 50 yards or longer Notre Dame ranked first or second in the FBS in fewest completions allowed of at least 30 yards (second; nine), 40 yards (first; one) and 50 yards (first; zero). Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea and Vanderbilt have finalized a contract to make him the next Commodores football coach, according to multiple sources. The Commodores have not had a winning season since 2013, and have finished over 0.500 just three times since 2000. Lea won third place in a national kids' magazine contest. The move marks a homecoming. Syracuse 2013-15 (Linebackers) In three years with the Orange, helped develop Zaire Franklin to an All-ACC performer In 2015, Franklin became the fourth sophomore captain in team history and led the Orange in tackles with 81 Leas 2014 unit was one of four at the FBS level to surrender fewer than 10 rushing touchdowns while the 2013 defense finished within the top 20 nationally in third-down defense (15th), rush defense (24th), sacks (18th) and tackles for loss (18th). "A protege of Elko, Lea. Bowling Green 2012 (Linebackers) Key piece of a defense that finished the year ranked seventh in the country in pass defense, ninth in scoring defense and sixth in third-down defense while his linebacker unit featured a pair of All-Mid-American Conference performers A finalist for FootballScoop.coms Linebackers Coach of the Year with his defensive group topping the MAC in nine statistical categories. 4 Clemson on Saturday in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. The ability to help resuscitate a program that meant so much to him held significant appeal to Lea, who still has strong ties to the Nashville area. Vanderbilt also hired Kristene Kelly as the deputy athletic director for internal affairs, who will help build out areas like weight training and nutrition, which are integral for Vanderbilts development as a program. In April, he toldLou Somogyiof BlueAndGold he wanted to wait for the right opportunity to arise before making the jump to leading an entire program: "I'm not looking for a reason to leave where I am. 2018 Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Vanderbilt is negotiating a deal with Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea to make the former Commodores player its new head coach. Tuesday, Jan 10, 2023. Lea played baseball at two other schools before transferring to Vanderbilt as a walk-on football player and playing three seasons from 2002-2004. 2 regular season ranking for the Fighting Irish was their highest since 2012. Here are five. All rights reserved. 2009 UCLA Eagle Bank Bowl The 2018 defense guided Notre Dame to a College Football Playoff appearance against Clemson in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Clark Lea, who became Vanderbilts 29th head coach in December of 2020, enters his second season at his alma mater in 2022. He started coaching at UCLA and also has coached at South Dakota State, Bowling Green, Syracuse, and Wake Forest. Vanderbilt is negotiating a deal with Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea to make the former Commodores player its new head coach. Leas work with linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in 2020 resulted in Owusu-Koramoah being the Butkus Award recipient, presented to the top linebacker in college football. In fact, at this point in Leas tenure, a familiar routine has taken hold. Leas red zone defense was ranked No. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Lovie Smith and Gus Malzahn Relieved of Head Coaching Duties. It would be stunning if the Irish didnt appear in the College Football Playoff, which means Lea will be splitting time over the next few weeks as the CFP games are on Jan. 1 and Jan. 11. Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press details of a contract were still being worked out but Lea was the school's top choice. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The 38-year-old Lea is a Nashville native who played baseball at Birmingham-Southern and Belmont before walking on as a fullback at Vanderbilt, where he played from 2002-04. The Commodores won for the first time in 11 games in Leas second game as head coach, a victory at Colorado State which also snapped a 10-game skid on the road. Lea, 38, is on the cusp of helping to lead the Fighting Irish to their. In 2013, Lea joined Syracuse University as their linebackers coach under head coach Scott Shafer. My excitement for the role grew as I spent time with Candice Lee and Chancellor Diermeierit's very clear they are united around a common vision for the future of the Vanderbilt Athletics program and football.". Clark W. Lea practices personal injury law in Midland, TX, at Cotton Bledsoe Tighe and Dawson. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Vanderbilt chancellor Daniel Diermeier, who started July 1, and athletic director Candice Lee, who had the interim title taken off in May,plan to involve the next coachin the university's plans for upgrading facilities. Report reveals huge Sean Payton contract demands, Ex-Celtics champion, coach dies at age 74, Patriots will interview interesting ex-player for OC role, Joe Burrow makes funny mistake at press conference. Leas success has led to myriad job interest from other schools. 3. Lea worked at Bowling Green in 2012, helping assemble a Falcon unit that ranked sixth nationally in total defense (296.6) and 10th in scoring defense (16.7). The All-American talks about being honored as an SEC Legend, his time as an SEC ref and the remarkable 1982 season. [5], On December 14, 2020, Lea was named the 29th head football coach at Vanderbilt University, replacing Derek Mason. Vanderbilt has not enjoyed a winning season since James Franklin left for Penn State after the 2013 season. 2010 UCLA Linebackers Mason posted 27-55 record and no winning seasons across seven years at Vandy. Pete Thamelof Yahoo Sports was the first to report a deal was finalized. Max Bonus amounts not. Lea brings a background at private schools that should help him rebuild Vanderbilt from its winless season in 2020, as the school hasnt had a winning season since James Franklin left for Penn State in 2013. [3][4] In January 2018, Lea was promoted to defensive coordinator, replacing Mike Elko, who departed to serve in the same role at Texas A&M. Children: Sons Clark III, Jack; Daughter Mara, Playing Experience College Football. And we have an enormous amount of assets and we need to bring them, we need to leverage them in order to advance athletics at university as a whole.. Yet, if the Irish are serious about being an annual College Football Playoff contender, Jack Swarbrick and Brian Kelly should be willing to make Lea one of the highest paid defensive coordinators in the country to convince him to stick around through the duration of Kellys contract. Wife: Allison If Kelly stays beyond the 2024 season, Lea would surely look to move on to a head coaching position elsewhere. The Commodores were the only team in the SEC to feature four players with multiple interceptions during the regular season, while as a team, Vandy had eight consecutive games with an interception, matching the longest such streak since 1996. The players had to spread out between the 25-yard lines . His debut "Team 1" set the foundation for the program while ending several inherited streaks. Clark Lea might be new to head coaching after his stint as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator, but he isn't new to the coaching industry or the demands of modern roster creation in the world of the portal. Last Saturday,she became the first woman to scorein a Power Five football game when she kicked two extra points. Vanderbilt football head coach Clark Lea watches a boy's basketball game between Brentwood Academy and Ensworth at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. College: Vanderbilt (Political Science, 2004) According to Clark's residence history, it can be assumed that around eight people, which include Pam N Clark, Pamela N Lea, Pamela N Lea, might know Clark. Beamer's new contract would rank 17th among FBS coaches and seventh in the SEC in 2022, though new. It's where he was born and raised. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. (615) 585-5809 (New Cingular Wireless Pcs, LLC), (615) 371-0320 (BellSouth Telecommunications, LLCNew Cingular Wireless Pcs, LLC) are the only phone numbers for Clark. The Celtics released a statement on Wednesday announcing the death of Ford at the age of 74. [1] Lea remained in Nashville and finished his college career at Vanderbilt, playing fullback his last two years.[2].