University of Memphis Athletics
Memphis Mourns the Passing of Hall of Famer Phil Clark
Jan 20, 2025 | Baseball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis is mourning the loss of M Club and Memphis Sports Hall of Famer Phil Clark, who passed away on Jan. 19 at the age of 68.
Clark came to Memphis in the fall of 1976 as a catcher for Bobby Kilpatrick's Tiger baseball team and was inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame in the class of 2001.
The Memphis Frayser High School graduate attended Jackson State Community College for two years and was poised to embark on a collegiate career that would bring himself and Memphis Baseball numerous honors.
In the spring of 1977 Clark appeared in 42 of the Tigers' 48 games and posted a .316 batting average. His 17 RBI helped the Tigers to a 34-14 mark, a program record for victories in a season at the time.
As a senior, Clark helped lead his team to its greatest season ever. He increased his batting average to .328 and was a major offensive contributor, helping lead the Tigers to a 40-9 record and a berth in the NCAA South Regional. Memphis advanced to the regional championship game before losing to North Carolina.
Clark had his No. 5 jersey retired at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field during the 2011 season after a career in which he played 71 career games over two seasons and finished with a batting average over .300. He drove in 30 runs, scored 35 and had eight doubles and three triples.
Following graduation, Clark became a high school baseball coach at Skyview Academy in Memphis and moved to Germantown High School in 1988. He won the 1995 National Championship at GHS and was named the USA Today National Coach of the Year as his team was ranked No. 1 in the country by the NHSBCA.
He led Sky View to State Championships in 1981 and 1986 while securing the position of runner-up in 1983 and 1984. Transitioning to Germantown High School in 1988, Clark continued to distinguish himself over fourteen remarkable years. Under his leadership, Germantown claimed state titles in 1995 and 2001 and finished as state runner-up in 1992, 1993 and 1998.
In 1999, Clark was named head coach of the USA Baseball junior team and the squad went on to claim the gold medal at the games in Taiwan.
In 2003, Clark accepted a position at Bartlett High School, where he further cemented his legacy by capturing another state championship in 2007 and becoming the first Tennessee high school baseball coach to win state titles at three different schools. He also led the team to runner-up finishes in 2006 and 2008.
Clark retired after the 2013 season as the all-time winningest high school baseball coach in the state of Tennessee, culminating a personal record of five state championships, seven runner-up finishes and a staggering overall coaching record of 933-295.
Clark's achievements earned him recognition as State Coach of the Year five times. His induction into the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association (TBCA) Hall of Fame, the Baseball Coaches Association (BCA) Hall of Fame, the University of Memphis M Club Hall of Fame in 2001, the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012 and his 2017 entry into the Memphis Amateur Sports Hall of Fame highlighted his influence and contributions to the sport.
In addition to those accolades, Clark was inducted into the Memphis Sports Hall of Fame in 2023 and TSSAA Hall of Fame in 2024, marking a fitting tribute to a remarkable and impactful career.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Baseball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Clark came to Memphis in the fall of 1976 as a catcher for Bobby Kilpatrick's Tiger baseball team and was inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame in the class of 2001.
The Memphis Frayser High School graduate attended Jackson State Community College for two years and was poised to embark on a collegiate career that would bring himself and Memphis Baseball numerous honors.
In the spring of 1977 Clark appeared in 42 of the Tigers' 48 games and posted a .316 batting average. His 17 RBI helped the Tigers to a 34-14 mark, a program record for victories in a season at the time.
As a senior, Clark helped lead his team to its greatest season ever. He increased his batting average to .328 and was a major offensive contributor, helping lead the Tigers to a 40-9 record and a berth in the NCAA South Regional. Memphis advanced to the regional championship game before losing to North Carolina.
Clark had his No. 5 jersey retired at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field during the 2011 season after a career in which he played 71 career games over two seasons and finished with a batting average over .300. He drove in 30 runs, scored 35 and had eight doubles and three triples.
Following graduation, Clark became a high school baseball coach at Skyview Academy in Memphis and moved to Germantown High School in 1988. He won the 1995 National Championship at GHS and was named the USA Today National Coach of the Year as his team was ranked No. 1 in the country by the NHSBCA.
He led Sky View to State Championships in 1981 and 1986 while securing the position of runner-up in 1983 and 1984. Transitioning to Germantown High School in 1988, Clark continued to distinguish himself over fourteen remarkable years. Under his leadership, Germantown claimed state titles in 1995 and 2001 and finished as state runner-up in 1992, 1993 and 1998.
In 1999, Clark was named head coach of the USA Baseball junior team and the squad went on to claim the gold medal at the games in Taiwan.
In 2003, Clark accepted a position at Bartlett High School, where he further cemented his legacy by capturing another state championship in 2007 and becoming the first Tennessee high school baseball coach to win state titles at three different schools. He also led the team to runner-up finishes in 2006 and 2008.
Clark retired after the 2013 season as the all-time winningest high school baseball coach in the state of Tennessee, culminating a personal record of five state championships, seven runner-up finishes and a staggering overall coaching record of 933-295.
Clark's achievements earned him recognition as State Coach of the Year five times. His induction into the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association (TBCA) Hall of Fame, the Baseball Coaches Association (BCA) Hall of Fame, the University of Memphis M Club Hall of Fame in 2001, the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012 and his 2017 entry into the Memphis Amateur Sports Hall of Fame highlighted his influence and contributions to the sport.
In addition to those accolades, Clark was inducted into the Memphis Sports Hall of Fame in 2023 and TSSAA Hall of Fame in 2024, marking a fitting tribute to a remarkable and impactful career.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Baseball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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