Charles Clark - Assistant Coach / Defensive Backs - Football Coaches

Charles Clark

Title:
Assistant Coach / Defensive Backs
Email:
football@memphis.edu
Phone:
901-678-5119

Charles Clark is in his fifth season at Memphis in 2024. He was named deputy head coach in January of 2024 after joining the staff in January of 2020.

In 2023, Clark helped guide the Tigers to a 10-3 season, including a win in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, 36-26, over Iowa State. The 10-win season was just the fifth in program history. Defensively, Memphis ranked fourth in the NCAA in fourth-down conversion percentage defense (.290), 15^th in defensive touchdowns (3) and 24^th in third-down conversion percentage defense (.333).

Individually, defensive back Simeon Blair earned Third-Team All-AAC honors after totaling 63 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, five pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble. His two fumble recoveries were tied for 19th in the NCAA.

In 2022, Clark helped guide the Tigers to a 38-10 victory over Utah State in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. Memphis finished the season ranked fifth in the nation in fewest penalties (53), 10th in interceptions (16) and 25th in turnovers gained (25).

Individually, defensive back Quindell Johnson was named First-Team All-AAC, while defensive back Davion Ross was named Honorable-Mention All-AAC. Johnson led the conference and ranked 22nd nationally with four interceptions, while Ross broke up a team-best six passes and had an interception.

In 2021, Clark helped the Tigers to the program’s eighth-straight bowl appearance, as the team was named EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl champions after Hawai’i withdrew from the game. For the bowl, Clark served as Interim Defensive Coordinator.

Quindell Johnson was named Second-Team All-AAC for the second-straight season after ranking second in the conference in total tackles (104) and solo tackles (66). He also ranked third in the league in tackles per game (8.8) and sixth in pass breakups (11). Johnson also had 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception on the year. Nationally, Johnson finished 12^th in solo tackles (5.5) and 27^th in total tackles (8.8).

In his first season in 2020, Clark and his unit helped Memphis rank 13th in the nation in turnovers gained (20), 17th in the country in interceptions (12) and 19th in red zone defense (.744).

Defensive back Quindell Johnson earned second-team all-conference accolades after leading the team with 81 stops on the year. Johnson also tallied three interceptions, five pass breakups, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one blocked kick.

“Charles is a home run hire,” Silverfield said at the time of his hiring. “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."

Clark comes to Memphis after spending the 2019 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 21^st 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.

Clark At A Glance

Alma Mater	Mississippi, 2007
Playing Experience	Mississippi (2003-06) Four-year letter winner and three-year starter Appeared in 47 games with 34 consecutive starts to end his playing career Finished with 198 tackles, three INT, 12 PBUs and five fumble recoveries

Coaching Experience

Duke	Defensive Quality Control Intern, Special Teams/Defense (2008) Graduate Assistant, Special Teams/Defense (2009)
San Jose State	Assistant Coach, Defensive Backs (2010-12)
Colorado	Assistant Coach, Safeties (2013-14) Assistant Coach, Cornerbacks (2015-16)
Oregon	Assistant Coach, Cornerbacks (2017)
Mississippi	Assistant Coach, Defensive Backs (2019)
Memphis	Assistant Coach, Defensive Backs (2020-2021) Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Backs (2022-2023) Deputy Head Coach, Safeties (2024-Present)

Bowl Coaching Experience

2012	Military Bowl
2016	Alamo Bowl
2017	Las Vegas Bowl
2020	Montgomery Bowl
2021	EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl
2022	SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
2023	AutoZone Liberty Bowl