ALBANY, N.Y. – Bernard Clark, who oversaw one of the top defenses in the Football Championship Subdivision this past season, is leaving the University at Albany to become the head coach at Robert Morris.
Clark, the Great Danes' associate head coach and defensive coordinator, will be introduced as the Northeast Conference school's third head coach in program history at a news conference Wednesday.
“We're close friends, and we've been doing this together a long time,” UAlbany head coach Greg Gattuso said. “He's a talented coach and definitely ready to be a head coach. I'm excited for him that he's getting this opportunity. He's going to do a great job at Robert Morris.”
Clark spent four seasons at UAlbany, the past three leading a defense that's been among the best in the nation. This past year, UAlbany ranked No. 9 nationally – and No. 2 in the Colonial Athletic Association – in allowing just 282.1 yards per game. The Great Danes also were one of four teams in the CAA allowing fewer than 20 points per game (17.7). And three UAlbany defensive players earned All-CAA honors: Malachi Hoskins (first team), Nate Hatalsky (second team) and Eli Mencer (third team).
As a player, Clark won two national championships with Miami and was the 1987 Orange Bowl MVP. He played three seasons in the NFL and two in the AFL before becoming a coach, with stops at James Madison, Liberty, Florida International, South Florida, Hampton, Pittsburgh and Colorado State.
