(WLOS) — Former Appalachian State University football head coach Shawn Clark passed away late Sunday night following a medical emergency he suffered during practice nearly two weeks ago, ESPN confirmed. He was 50.

Clark, who was in his first season as the offensive line coach for the University of Central Florida, collapsed during practice on Sept. 9. In a statement, UCF called Clark’s passing “unexpected” after he was in “stable condition.”

In the statement, UCF Head Coach Scott Frost described Clark as a “remarkable man, husband, and father who cared deeply about his players and staff.”

“The reaction of our players and coaches to the news this morning is a testament to Shawn’s character and the impact he had on every life that he touched,” Frost said. “He was loved. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jonelle, and children, Giana and Braxton. We are here to support them and will continue to keep them in our hearts and prayers.”

Clark was an offensive lineman for the Mountaineers from 1994 to 1998. He was a two-time All-American (1996 and 1998) as well as a three-time all-conference selection (1995, 1996 and 1998). Clark was a part of a perfect regular season in 1995, starting the year 12-0 and winning the Southern Conference before falling in the NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) playoffs. Clark was 45-16 as a player during his time in Boone. He graduated with a degree in criminal justice.

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Clark’s coaching career began in 2001 as a graduate assistant at Louisville, where he ultimately received his master’s degree in 2003. He remained in the Bluegrass State, taking the offensive line coaching job at Eastern Kentucky. He would remain on the Colonels staff until 2008.

After stops at Purdue and Kent State, Clark returned to his alma mater in 2016, becoming the coach of the position he excelled at during his playing days – offensive line. He was also given extra responsibilities under then-head coach Scott Satterfield, being named co-offensive coordinator.

In three seasons as offensive coordinator, Clark helped create one of the most prolific offenses in Sun Belt history. In 2017, the Mountaineers led the conference in rushing yards per game and were ranked second nationally with the fewest number of sacks allowed. Appalachian State was named co-champions in 2016 and 2017 before winning the Sun Belt conference outright in 2018, defeating Louisiana-Lafayette in the inaugural Sun Belt conference title game.

Clark was named assistant head coach ahead of the 2019 season under Eliah Drinkwitz, who replaced Satterfield.

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The 2019 season is still the most successful in Mountaineer history. The 13 wins matched the second-most wins for a season in program history, tying the 2007 I-AA National Championship-winning team. The season also featured wins against Power 5 opponents North Carolina and South Carolina, as well as another Sun Belt regular season and conference title game championship.

However, Clark’s position abruptly changed after Drinkwitz took the head coaching job at Missouri. Clark found himself in the head coach role ahead of the Mountaineers’ bowl game. Clark embraced the opportunity and led App State to a fifth consecutive bowl win, defeating UAB in the New Orleans Bowl.

Clark’s first full season at the helm was marred by difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the Mountaineers put up a 9-3 record and yet another bowl appearance. Clark’s first full season was capped off with a historic 317-yard rushing performance from Cameron Peoples in the inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl. It’s the second-most rushing yards in a bowl game.

Clark would go 40-24 over his time at his alma mater, taking the Mountaineers to the Sun Belt title game twice and racking up three bowl wins.

During his tenure, major highlights include the first win over a ranked opponent at home when App State knocked off #14 Coastal Carolina on a walk-off field goal in 2021.

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Of course, Mountaineer fans remember the historic two-week period when Clark and company marched into College Station and shocked #6 Texas A&M. It was that victory which brought ESPN’s flagship show College Gameday to Boone for the first time the following and captured one of the most enthralling games in Mountaineer as history as App would take down Troy on a Hail Mary as time expired.

However, App State would go 4-5 the rest of the season and miss out on a bowl game for the first time as a member of the FBS. The Mountaineers bounced back the following year, going 9–5, appearing in the conference title game, and winning a bowl game.

But in 2024, the Mountaineers had their first losing season in more than a decade, and Clark was relieved of his duties in early December.

Dowell Loggains was announced as Clark’s successor on Dec. 7, 2024.

On Monday, Loggains, who inherited many of Clark’s recruits when taking over the program, spoke about the impact Clark left on the program in a weekly news conference.

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“You could see in their faces what Coach [Clark] meant to these guys,” Loggains said. “And I know from the community, his old teammates and the people that he’s coached, how much he meant to [them] and impact he had on people.”

Clark quickly found a new opportunity, being named UCF’s offensive line coach on Jan. 4, 2025. In his first two games on the sidelines, the Knights ran for over 450 yards and the offensive line only gave up 3 sacks.

Following his passing, UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir released a statement saying Clark brought “passion, integrity, and a genuine love for people to everything he did.”

“Shawn will be remembered not only for his impact on the game of football, but also for the relationships he built and the example he set as a husband and father,” Mohajir continued.

Tributes continue to pour in from many of Clark’s former Sun Belt foes – including long-time rivals Georgia Southern as well as Coastal Carolina, James Madison and Troy.

Shawn Clark is survived by his wife, Jonelle, and two children.