University of Memphis Athletics
Charles Clark Named Defensive Backs Coach at Memphis
Jan 09, 2020 | Football
MEMPHIS – Ryan Silverfield has confirmed the hiring of Charles Clark as the team's assistant coach for defensive backs, it was announced Thursday.
"Charles is a home run hire," Silverfield said. "He is a very well-respected man and defensive backs coach. He has great ties to this region and has been very successful at every stop. Not only does Charles do a tremendous job on the field, but he mentors his players and develops great relationships off the field. It is always good to have another coach from the 904 here in the 901! We are so excited to have Charles, his wife, Kristie, and their family move up the road to join us here in Memphis."
Clark comes to Memphis after spending last season on the staff at Ole Miss as the program's secondary coach. There, he helped defensive back Keidron Smith rank in the top 25 in the country in forced fumbles (3).
A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter for Ole Miss from 2003-06, Clark appeared in 47 games, with 34 consecutive starts to end his collegiate playing career. A native of Green Cove Springs, Florida, he finished with 198 tackles, three interceptions, 12 PBUs and five fumble recoveries.
Graduating in 2007 with a degree in banking and finance, he briefly worked in private business before moving into coaching.
His first coaching stop was at Duke, where he served as a defensive quality control intern in 2008. He also assisted with special teams and defense while on the Blue Devil staff and was promoted to a graduate assistant position in 2009 with those two units.
From 2010-12, Clark coached the defensive backs at San Jose State. The Spartans led the WAC in interceptions (15) and forced turnovers (12) and saw three of Clark's players (Bene Benwikere, Duke Ihenacho, and Peyton Thompson) earn all-conference honors and eventual NFL draft spots.
In 2013, Clark left San Jose to join the staff at Colorado, working under head coach Mike MacIntyre. He served as the safeties coach in 2013 and 2014 and moved to the cornerbacks coach in 2015 and 2016.
The secondary helped Colorado to a 2016 Pac-12 South Division title and a Valero Alamo Bowl appearance. The defensive unit ranked second in the league and 21st in the country in pass defense (193.6 ypg) and tied for third in the nation in passing yards allowed per attempt (5.7). Four Colorado defensive backs earned all-conference honors in Clark's time there and three seniors in the secondary were drafted in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft.
Clark moved to the staff at Oregon in 2017, serving as the team's cornerbacks coach.
He and his wife Kristie seven kids. Daughters CadeMorgan, Angel and Heaven and sons Charles IV, Chris, Joshua and Jeremiah.
Tiger football is prepping for its first season under Coach Silverfield. Fans can place a $50 deposit on their 2020 football season tickets online at www.GoTigersGoTix.com
"Charles is a home run hire," Silverfield said. "He is a very well-respected man and defensive backs coach. He has great ties to this region and has been very successful at every stop. Not only does Charles do a tremendous job on the field, but he mentors his players and develops great relationships off the field. It is always good to have another coach from the 904 here in the 901! We are so excited to have Charles, his wife, Kristie, and their family move up the road to join us here in Memphis."
Clark comes to Memphis after spending last season on the staff at Ole Miss as the program's secondary coach. There, he helped defensive back Keidron Smith rank in the top 25 in the country in forced fumbles (3).
A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter for Ole Miss from 2003-06, Clark appeared in 47 games, with 34 consecutive starts to end his collegiate playing career. A native of Green Cove Springs, Florida, he finished with 198 tackles, three interceptions, 12 PBUs and five fumble recoveries.
Graduating in 2007 with a degree in banking and finance, he briefly worked in private business before moving into coaching.
His first coaching stop was at Duke, where he served as a defensive quality control intern in 2008. He also assisted with special teams and defense while on the Blue Devil staff and was promoted to a graduate assistant position in 2009 with those two units.
From 2010-12, Clark coached the defensive backs at San Jose State. The Spartans led the WAC in interceptions (15) and forced turnovers (12) and saw three of Clark's players (Bene Benwikere, Duke Ihenacho, and Peyton Thompson) earn all-conference honors and eventual NFL draft spots.
In 2013, Clark left San Jose to join the staff at Colorado, working under head coach Mike MacIntyre. He served as the safeties coach in 2013 and 2014 and moved to the cornerbacks coach in 2015 and 2016.
The secondary helped Colorado to a 2016 Pac-12 South Division title and a Valero Alamo Bowl appearance. The defensive unit ranked second in the league and 21st in the country in pass defense (193.6 ypg) and tied for third in the nation in passing yards allowed per attempt (5.7). Four Colorado defensive backs earned all-conference honors in Clark's time there and three seniors in the secondary were drafted in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft.
Clark moved to the staff at Oregon in 2017, serving as the team's cornerbacks coach.
He and his wife Kristie seven kids. Daughters CadeMorgan, Angel and Heaven and sons Charles IV, Chris, Joshua and Jeremiah.
Tiger football is prepping for its first season under Coach Silverfield. Fans can place a $50 deposit on their 2020 football season tickets online at www.GoTigersGoTix.com
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