Clark Earns AFCA National Assistant Coach of the Year Award

WACO, TEXAS — For a second straight season, a member of the Dartmouth football coaching staff has been named the AFCA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Assistant Coach of the Year, as announced on Tuesday. After linebackers coach and defensive coordinator Don Dobes won the award last year, offensive line coach Keith Clark was honored this season.

Each year, staff representatives from NCAA and NAIA football-playing schools are asked to nominate an assistant for consideration. From those nominations, the winners are selected by the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Committee.

"I couldn't be happier for Keith Clark's dedication, lifelong commitment to his players, and ability to teach and develop at a high level to be nationally recognized in this way," said Sammy McCorkle, Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach. "His contributions have been critical to our success, and we deeply appreciate having him be a part of our Dartmouth Football family."

The Assistant Coach of the Year award was first presented in 1997 and was created to honor assistant coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success and AFCA professional organization involvement.

"I would like to thank the AFCA and the people behind the scenes who worked to make this happen," said Clark. "I am truly humbled by the recognition in a field of so many deserving coaches. I am most grateful to the leadership of my many mentors who showed me the value and satisfaction of developing the student-athletes in our charge."

The criterion for the award is not limited to on-field coaching ability or the success of the team and the players whom these assistant coaches work with. Service to the community through charitable work and other volunteer activities, participation in AFCA activities and events, participation in other professional organizations and impact on student-athletes are all considered in the selection process.

The Big Green offensive line has been a consistent force for the Big Green over Coach Clark's 17 seasons. This season, Dartmouth finished third in the Ivy League in rushing yards per game (163.3). The Big Green are fifth nationally in fewest sacks allowed per game (0.80 per contest). Dartmouth features a preseason first team All-American by Stats Perform at offensive line in Delby Lemieux, who is also an NFL prospect.

"So deserving for Coach Clark, incredibly intelligent and professional coach," said Lemieux. "Coach Clark was one of the main reasons I came here. Year over year, he's a reason we find success in our offense. He treats our room like a family, which helps us become a true band of brothers when we step out onto the field."

Lemieux was named first team All-Ivy after the season, with Konstantin Spörk and Maxwell Wentz garnering second-team honors. Spörk also received Academic All-Ivy recognition.

"Coach Clark is someone I've grown extremely close to over my time at Dartmouth," said Spörk. "He's the kind of coach every player trusts, not just with football, but also with life. Everyone in our position group knows that if we're dealing with something off the field, we can always turn to him."

In Clark's time, he has coached 45 All-Ivy selections in his 17 seasons. In addition, every offensive lineman has graduated. Clark is a 40-year coaching veteran since his graduation from Lafayette in 1985. In his time, he has coached at Lafayette, Maine, Rutgers, Wagner, Columbia, Yale then Dartmouth. At Yale, he served as offensive line coach, associate head coach and offensive coordinator.

"What I respect most about Coach Clark is his openness and willingness to adapt," said Spörk. "Even with all his experience and success, he's never too proud to change his mind when he sees a better way to teach something. He's constantly studying film, learning, and finding ways to help us improve. That attention to detail and humility make him the best developer of players that I've ever been around.

Clark has been a member of the AFCA since 1987. Over his career, Clark has participated in the Luncheon committee and Assistant Coaches Committee, once chairing the Assistant Coaches Committee for four years.

Clark has also been involved in a number of community initiatives, including:

- Child Host for Fresh Air Fund (annually, child stays with family on summer vacation)
- Middle school football coach during Covid (Ivy League suspended season)
- Youth baseball coach
- Read Across America volunteer
- Cub Scouts leader

"After four years of playing for Coach Clark, I chose to come back for a fifth," said Spörk. "That decision says everything about the kind of coach and person he is. I knew that continuing to learn from Coach Clark would give me the best opportunity to grow as both a player and a person."

Assistant Coach of the Year Notes
142 assistant coaches from 105 different schools have been honored by the AFCA since the inception of the award in 1997 ... With Tyler Almond's selection in 2025, Carson-Newman becomes the only program with four AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year honorees … Central (Iowa) joins Benedictine (Kan.), Bethel (Minn.), Campbellsville, Hampton, Iowa, Morningside, and Virginia Union as schools with three winners each ... Army, Air Force, Carroll (Mont.), Clemson, Dartmouth, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Kansas Wesleyan, Lindsey Wilson, Marian, Mount Union, Northwest Missouri State, Tabor, Wabash, Washington (Mo.) and Winona State all have two winners each.

Winners of the Assistant Coach of the Year Award will receive a plaque to commemorate their recognition. They will be honored on Sunday, January 11, during the 2026 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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