A eulogy for the Shawn Clark era at App State

Photo: AgualloStudios.com

Following a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw the Mountaineers finish with a 5-6 overall record and 3-5 mark in Sun Belt play, App State announced on Monday that it had terminated the contract of head coach Shawn Clark after five seasons and a 40-24 record. A former All-American offensive lineman for the Apps, Clark returned to Boone in 2016 to coach the offensive line and did so until taking the top job full-time in 2020.

Always well-liked and respected among his peers and the App State athletic department, AD Doug Gillin had a tough decision to make. The relationship between Clark and the Mountaineer fans was a complicated one, split between those who have wanted to make a change for several years and those who felt that one of their own deserved more time to right the ship and that the struggles of the program were due in large part to external factors in a sport that has changed dramatically during his tenure.

Ultimately, I think there was some truth on both sides of what became an exhausting argument among App State fans and alumni. Make no mistake, Clark's job was not an easy one. His first season was altered dramatically by COVID, with altered schedules and games played in empty stadiums.

Shortly thereafter, NCAA rules on transfers and NIL payments changed the landscape of the sport. There are now players recruited to App making major contributions at programs like Missouri, Auburn and Oklahoma.

At the same time, the Mountaineers' peers have had the same challenges to deal with. The incredible turnaround to the 2023 campaign reinvigorated the program and provided great hope heading into 2024, with the Apps returning 14 starters and picked as the preseason favorites to win the Sun Belt just as they were in 2022. Unfortunately, both seasons ended with a losing record in conference and missing bowl season, dubious firsts in App's FBS history.

Failing to make the postseason in two of the last three seasons was too much to overcome and the decision to make a change is an understandable one. Given the fan support and resources that App State has relative to their conference peers, bowl appearances are viewed as the the bare minimum among much the fan base.

Based on the most recent data released, App State is at the top of the Sun Belt in ticket revenue, donations and licensing. With that level of commitment to football, high expectations are reasonable.

However, it is significant to note that Clark's tenure had plenty of positives. Attendance, donations and season ticket sales are has high as they have ever been. Winning at Texas A&M in 2022 and getting College Game Day on campus brought tremendous exposure to the program.

An often overlooked accomplishment is Clark's 3-0 record against East Carolina. The Pirates had their own struggles under Mike Houston but two of those ECU teams went bowling themselves. In terms of recruiting and the in-state food chain, sweeping that series is more significant than many would care to admit.

Inside the Sun Belt, the addition of James Madison and their immediate success changed the dynamics of the East division. After a stunning collapse in 2022, Clark won his last two battles against the Dukes.

The Apps spoiled their Game Day experience and ended JMU's perfect 2023 season, then added a 14-point win at The Rock just two weeks ago. The Mountaineers now lead the all-time series 14-5 and made Clark's final home game a memorable one.

On the flip side, going 1-4 against Coastal Carolina was a black mark on his tenure and a sloppy, lopsided loss to the Chanticleers on November 7 may have been the final nail in the coffin. Coastal caught lightning in a bottle with Grayson McCall and Jamey Chadwell, so extending their perfect record in the series would not have been a realistic ask but losing in that fashion to a mediocre 6-6 opponent was damning.

In many ways, the 2024 season encapsulated the good and bad of the Shawn Clark era. An emotional come from behind win in Greenville and a fantastic home performance against JMU, with lifeless defeats to South Alabama and Coastal sandwiched in between.

The highs were high under Shawn Clark, from an electric 2021 victory over an undefeated 14th ranked Coastal, the fever dream first three weeks of the 2022 campaign and a five game win streak in 2023. Ultimately, what lacked was consistency and the ability to perform away from home.

Under Clark, App State teams posted an excellent 25-5 record at Kidd Brewer Stadium and were 4-1 in neutral site games. However, in true road games, the Mountaineers were 11-18. That divergence held especially true in 2024 as the Apps went 4-1 at home and 1-5 on the road.

College football is a results-based business and while I think making a change is fair, there have been no shortage of hyperbolic claims about the state of the program under Clark that in my opinion, are not. App State football remains an attractive destination for players and coaches alike, with an infrastructure that should provide its next leader with the opportunity to win in relatively short order.

The Shawn Clark era of App State football was far from perfect but it provided no shortage of moments worth savoring. A Mountaineer through and through, his love for the program can never be questioned and despite a disappointing end, he led his alma mater in a period of unprecedented change and left a solid foundation to build on.