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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Football
Sep 13 (Sat)
6:00 PM
- Ending Title:
- Assistant Coach/Cornerbacks
- Years at Ole Miss:
- 2018-19
- Alma Mater:
- Ole Miss (2007)
Former Ole Miss defensive back Charles Clark returned to Oxford in January 2018 where he serves as assistant coach and works with the cornerbacks.
In his first season as an Ole Miss coach, Clark’s mentored a group of cornerbacks that included Ken Webster. Chosen by the New England Patriots, Webster heard his name called in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Clark also coached Myles Hartsfield, who broke up a team-high seven passes in 2018, as well as a freshman who played all 12 games in Keidron Smith.
Clark, a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at safety for the Rebels from 2003-06, coached at Duke, San Jose State, Colorado and Oregon, where he spent the 2017 season as cornerbacks coach. Notably, his 2016 secondary with the Buffaloes ranked among the best in the nation.
During his time roaming the Ole Miss secondary, Clark appeared in 47 games, including 34 straight starts during his sophomore, junior and senior campaigns. The Green Cove Springs, Florida, native tallied 198 tackles, three interceptions, 12 pass breakups and five fumble recoveries during his Rebel career.
Prior to Oregon, Clark spent four seasons at Colorado, coaching safeties for two seasons before moving to cornerbacks for the 2015 and 2016 campaigns. Clark’s secondary was instrumental in helping the Buffs to the 2016 Pac-12 Conference South Division title, finishing second in the league and 21st in the country in passing defense (193.6 ypg) and tied for third in the nation in passing yards allowed per attempt (5.7). Four of Clark’s defensive backs earned Pac-12 all-conference honors, and three seniors in the secondary were drafted in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft.
Before Colorado, Clark coached defensive backs at San Jose State from 2010 to 2012. His unit led the WAC in interceptions (15) and forced turnovers (31) in 2012, and he helped to mold Duke Ihenacho into an All-Western Athletic Conference selection and future NFL player. Three of Clarks’s players earned WAC all-conference honors, and Peyton Thompson and Bene Benwikere joined Ihenacho as selections in the NFL Draft.
Clark began his coaching career at Duke in 2008, starting as a defensive quality control intern while also assisting the special teams coordinator and defensive assistant coaches. In 2009, he was promoted to a graduate assistant position assigned to the defense and special teams.
Clark graduated from Ole Miss in 2007 with a degree in banking and finance, and he worked briefly in private business before entering the coaching profession.
Clark has one daughter, CadeMorgan, and one son, Charles IV.
| COACHING CAREER | ||
| Year(s) | School | Position |
| 2018-Pres. | Ole Miss | Secondary Coach |
| 2017 | Oregon | Cornerbacks |
| 2015-16 | Colorado | Cornerbacks |
| 2013-14 | Colorado | Safeties |
| 2010-12 | San Jose State | Cornerbacks |
| 2009 | Duke | Graduate Assistant |
| 2008 | Duke | Defensive Quality Control Intern |
